Yellowknife (May 10/04) - For Laurie-Ann Lines, power doesn't necessarily corrupt. Sometimes it's just fun to have it at your finger tips.

Lines, as the youth parliament representative for the Weledeh constituency, was filling the shoes of Premier Joe Handley last week.

"I get to have the power over everyone, so that's awesome," said Lines, during a break in their mock session at the legislative assembly, Thursday.

As powerful as the premier may be, she still isn't sure if a career in politics is in the cards.

"I don't what my future holds for me so I guess you'll just have to wait a couple of years," she said

Every year, a select group of youths from Grades -9-10 are chosen to represent the NWT's 19 constituencies to experience what it's like to be a territorial MLA.

To become a youth parliamentarian, NWT students must write an essay, explaining why they should represent their riding in the legislative assembly. Only one student per constituency is selected.

Thursday's oral question period saw youth parliamentarians from the opposition benches hammer cabinet on a variety of issues, from cutbacks to early childhood development programs to GNWT policy on mine closures.

But the hottest item to hit the floor Thursday, was a motion from Hay River North's Matthew Davies to raise the age to buy cigarettes to 19.

Some youth MLAs even wanted to see the limit raised to 21. Eventually, after much debate, they decided to stick with 19-year limit. The vote was unanimous.

"It prevents children from buying cigarettes because most graduates who are 18-years-old sell cigarettes to kids in younger age groups," said Davies.

Carley Gray, representing Floyd Roland's constituency of Inuvik-Boot Lake, said the session was less nerve-wracking than she thought, although she imagines being an MLA can be a really tense job.

"It's really strict and formal," said Gray.

"It seems so tense, but when we were laughing today in the chamber it loosened things up."