麻豆视频

Saskatchewan Youth Parliament (SYP) has been active in the province, with breaks during the Great Depression and World War II, since 1912 when it started as the Older Boys Youth Parliament.

Local youth, Emily Klatt (grade 12) of Carlyle, has been involved with the organization for three years and explained the group is both a way for youth to debate topics important them as well as a social experience.

"Officially we're a mock government debate organization that is working to promote youth participation and democracy, but we're so much more than that," Klatt stated. "We're a social organization and something that provides a platform for young people to voice their opinions and discuss issues that are relevant to them, but also it's a really great way to meet some new people, to have fun, and to have new experiences."

The program welcomes youth between the ages of 15 and 21 to take part in SYP. These young individuals are given a platform to discuss various topics including everything from adding a mandatory diversity studies class to the high school curriculum to banning flavoured tobacco products, to debating duels to the death.

"We do a lot of education ones but we do some on the economy, social policies; it's a very broad range," Klatt stated.

"As different as the people in SYP are, so are the things we debate."

SYP holds numerous sessions from mini-parliaments to the annual Christmas session to a summer retreat. In addition to these typical events SYP also takes part in the Western Canada Youth Parliament held every two years.

Mini parliaments are hosted by schools across the province on weekends. Here youth debate topics within a smaller setting before preparing for the Christmas session, which is held in Regina at the legislature.

"So, we sit in the seats of actual MLA's and most of our day is inside the legislature, but we do other things too," Klatt explained. "We have a dance, games, and we get to go to a formal banquet at Governor House with the Lieutenant-Governor and we're always happy they have us back every year."

The first year Klatt was involved with SYP she was a member of the legislative assembly, however, she has now been a cabinet minister for two years and holds the title of Minister of Interprovincial Government Affairs.

With this title comes the responsibility of helping to organize the Western Canada Youth Parliament which sees delegates of youth parliaments from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba come together.

"delegates from all four western provinces come to one of the host parliaments, and it alternates, and this year it's Saskatchewan's turn," Klatt stated. "And I'm in charge of planning it."

"So, it's over May long weekend this year and we have people coming from all over Canada as we sometimes have delegates from youth parliaments in the Territories, Ontario, or the Maritimes and we get to show them how SYP does youth parliament because they're all very different."

Klatt went on to explain to The Observer that is an extremely important event within youth parliament: "It's a fairly significant event; we only host it once every eight years so it's a pretty exciting thing!"

Its importance to the young people involved as well as the province is great and the young members of SYP will soon be looking for sponsors to help host the event.

"SYP is a non-profit, we operate on limited funds so any kind of sponsorship whether it's in the form of monetary donations or food donations, prizes, even someone's time, or even if they want to donate notepads and stationary" Klatt said. "We always appreciate everything that people are able to give."

Klatt personally feels her opportunities to grow as an individual within SYP has been integral in developing a variety of imperative lifelong skills.

"It's definitely given me a lot of really useful professional skills because I know how to dress up and look business appropriate, but I know how to present myself well and speak in a way that, hopefully, other people will listen too," Klatt stated.

In addition to these skills she has gained more confidence in public speaking and has developed critical thinking skills while analyzing issues, which has correlated into being able to respect others despite differing opinions.

"There are many people who come to SYP and by no means do we always agree on the resolutions we debate, but we can respect each other despite differences of opinion and you actually might end up changing the ways you view things depending on who you talk to," Klatt explained.

These skills Klatt plans to use while attending the University of Saskatchewan next year. With plans of becoming a director and playwright currently, Klatt is looking forward to the future. With experiences such as the Saskatchewan Youth Parliament the young woman has not only learned important life skills, but has developed lifelong friendships while growing as an individual.

"I encourage all youth between the ages of 15 and 21 to attend a Saskatchewan Youth Parliament event," Klatt said. " it's a great way to learn more about politics, to talk about topics interesting to you, to have your voice heard, and to make friends and have fun."

Willing to provide anyone with information she invites students to speak with her at school or for potential sponsors of the Western Canada Youth Parliament to email her at [email protected].