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 The sixth annual Youth Parliament was held this week at the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife. Dawn Bell, representing Nahendeh, and Cameron Sapp, the voice for the Deh Cho riding, were ready for some debate in the chamber. |
Sapp, a 14-year-old from Fort Providence, and Dawn Bell, from Fort Simpson, were among students from across the NWT to take part in Youth Parliament at the legislature in Yellowknife, May 2-6.
"It's just not my career," Sapp said of politics, with a mild chuckle. He added that he did enjoy meeting new people, though.
Bell, too, said that a life of public service isn't in the cards for her, but she did enjoy herself last week.
"On the whole experience, I say it was pretty awesome. I now know what goes on in the Legislative Assembly and what my parliament is involved in," she said, adding that she wants to be a politically active individual, just not a politician.
The junior MLAs debated two motions: to construct a road from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk, the other to allow those under the age of 16 to patronize, without adult supervision, restaurants that are licensed to sell alcohol.
Bell said she was in favour of the latter, but abstained on the former because the vast majority of the road would not lie within her constituency. She tried to remain impartial when she felt it was appropriate, she said.
"I put aside my own opinions and values and instead focused on the different constituents and what the issues meant to them," Bell explained. "I was nervous when I first had to stand up and make a member's statement. Once I got into the role and (began) understanding the workings of the Chamber, I was then able to put forth my actual feelings."
Like Bell, Sapp said he doesn't feel teens should always have to be under the watchful eye of a parent or adult while in a licensed restaurant. On the other motion, he was opposed to establishing a road from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk because "it might open up more opportunities to drugs to the youth," he said.
Deh Cho MLA and Minister Michael McLeod was on hand to assist Sapp in preparing his responses to oral questions. Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche gave Bell a hand with her duties.
Outside the legislature, the students took a tour of Yellowknife's Old Town, the Visitors Centre and the Prince of Wales Heritage Centre. They also went swimming and played soccer.
