Manitoba's youth parliament opens 103rd session

The Youth Parliament of Manitoba (YPM) officially opened its 103rd session on Thursday, giving young people a chance to learn about the parliamentary process.

During the winter session, which will run from Dec. 26 to 31, the group will debate the following legislations:

• The Voters for Open and Transparent Elections Act;
• The Child Protection Act; and
• The Equity in Education Act.

“[Youth] come here to express their opinions and hear others’ opinions as well, so they can learn more about the world and different policies that we have,” said Xiao Zhang, who is part of the YPM.

YPM is a nonpartisan, nondenominational organization that is run by youth. It is a model parliament that offers young adults a chance to learn about democracy, improve communication skills and meet other youth in the province.

Session is the YPM’s flagship event, giving young adults a chance to debate current issues in a model parliamentary environment. This five-day overnight event is for youths aged 16 to 20.

“It’s definitely an opportunity to learn about what parliament is like,” Zhang said.

“It’s an opportunity to meet our current politicians, speak with them, learn about their jobs and see if it’s a good match for them in the future.”

- With files from CTV’s Gary Robson.