Statement made on 31 January 2012 by Senator Marie-P. Poulin (Charette)
Hon. Marie-P. Poulin:
Honourable senators, in January 1993, 22 students from Laurentian University in Sudbury met in the city council chambers to start up a parliamentary project. Their goal was to discuss the political issues of the day and to learn about the Canadian parliamentary system. Laurentian University's model parliament program was born.
This model parliament has continued to evolve over the years and has attracted more and more students. In 1998, students organized the sixth model parliament in the House of Commons, here in Ottawa. Laurentian students have returned to Ottawa every year since.
On January 6, 2012, more than 150 participants gathered on Parliament Hill for the 20th edition of this remarkable event. A new component was added this year to complete the model parliament, with students and alumni in both the House of Commons and here in the Senate.
I had the opportunity to participate in this event as the "virtual Speaker of the Senate". With both chambers in operation, the students had the opportunity to discover how a complete parliament works. There was an official opening, a speech from the throne by Laurentian University Chancellor Aline Chrétien, who served as "virtual Governor General", tabling of a budget, introduction of six bills and finally, Royal Assent.
According to Laurentian University President Dominic Giroux, who participated in the model parliament as Sergeant-at-Arms in the other place:
The model parliament program is an interactive way to engage students and a unique opportunity for them to discover what democracy is about while putting into practice some of the knowledge that they have acquired.
Honourable senators, I am proud that the Senate opened its doors and participated in this activity so that students can experience in this unique way the Senate's important role in our parliamentary system. I would like to thank our Speaker, Noël Kinsella, and the Senate's administrative team, including the committee clerk, Daniel Charbonneau. Daniel made all of the arrangements. I would also like to congratulate the organizers, the students and the alumni.
I would especially like to congratulate Zachary Courtemanche, president of the Laurentian University Political Science Association, alumnus Nathan Chevrier and professor Rand Dyck. Their efforts made Laurentian University's model parliament a great success.