Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 08/02) - The territorial government sustained a crushing blow Wednesday when members of cabinet broke rank and voted against a bill that would have doubled the amount of financial assistance available to students.

Sara Reid, who acted as premier for the day, reads her minister's statement on family violence. - Nathan VanderKlippe/NNSL photo

Only five MLAs supported the bill, which was proposed by education minister Tanis Baile.

Even more surprising: the idea of more cash for kids was tossed aside by a group of Grade 10 students -- people who will be begging for those dollars in just a couple of years.

Chairs in the legislature seated a different brand of politician Wednesday, as 19 students -- all but one female -- from St. Patrick high school debated everything from family violence to the housing crunch in Fort Smith.

They came together for a student parliament, a pilot project that Yellowknife educators hope will sprout into a regular chance for city grade 10 students to gain first-hand experience at the legislative assembly. The experience was complete with a speaker of the house -- deputy clerk Doug Schauerte -- a wooden mace built by the real speaker, Tony Whitford, and throaty rounds of "shame, shame" by disgruntled politicians.

For two hours, Sara McGarry's Grade 10 humanities class talked and debated politics. Judging by the discussion, the most important issue facing youth today is alcohol, as the MLAs-for-the-day fired back and forth about drinking and driving.

One of the bills on the table called for lowering the allowable blood alcohol content for drivers from 0.08 to 0.05.

Some of the students said moving it down would prevent accidents and save lives.

"The smallest amount (of alcohol), -- and, may I emphasize, the smallest amount -- affects you," said Megan Russell, the transportation minister.

But, countered Hay River representative Gina Michel, accidents happen when people are trashed, not just at a blood alcohol content of 0.08. Dropping the limit takes away people's right to choose.

"You should be able to make a decision as to whether or not you can have a sip and drive," she said.

Under the watching eye of several real MLAs, including Charles Dent, Bill Braden and Jake Ootes, the students ultimately passed the bill by a 13-3 margin, with three abstaining.

The student parliament brought together a whole spectrum of students, some interested in politics and some decidedly not.

"It's not the most important thing in my life," said Dominic Debogorski, the only boy in the legislature, who said he'd rather play sports like soccer and broomball. "We're getting marked for this, so I came and did it."

The real MLAs, however, thought it was important. Dent said getting students to actually participate in the political process "demystifies" politics.

"It's fairly important because a lot of people don't realize the sorts of things MLAs do," he said.

Ootes, who watched his granddaughter, Tanis Baile, assume his minister's chair, said the experience "challenges" students -- and could be a breeding ground for new politicians.

"I'm sure there's some who are going to replace me some day," he said.

At least one student might have agreed.

Sara Reid, who sat in Premier Stephen Kakfwi's chair, read a minister's statement focusing on family violence. Her research brought her in contact with the NWT Status of Women Council -- and opened her eyes to a new world of issues, and even the possibility of being a politician herself.

"I didn't before this, but now I think it'd be awesome," she said.

"It feels really important. We're sitting where the MLAs and everyone else sits. I'm sitting in the premier's chair and writing with his pen."