DEH CHO - As MLA of the Nahendeh, Tim Gargan-Lacasse is concerned about rising gas prices in the territory.

Spencer Bonnetrouge of Deh Cho reads his member’s statement during the 11th biennial Youth Parliament at the legislative assembly in Yellowknife the afternoon of May 5. Representatives from all 19 constituencies in the NWT took part. - Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison/NNSL photo

During his member’s statement on May 5 in the legislative assembly, Gargan-Lacasse said the cost of gas will have a domino effect if it keeps rising, affecting everything from the price of food to hunters’ and trappers’ access to traplines and hunting grounds. In the worst case scenario people might start to move south, he said.

“I was talking about how communities might dissolve because they can’t survive,” said Gargan-Lacasse.

Although he’s aware of issues that matter to constituents in the Nahendeh, it will be a few years before Gargan-Lacasse will be eligible to represent the riding in the legislative assembly. The 15-year-old was one of 19 students from across the territory who participated in Youth Parliament from May 2 to 5 in Yellowknife.

The program, which is in its 11th year, is open to students in Grades 9 and 10.

“The purpose is definitely to give the kids a better sense of consensus government,” said Jessica Fournier, organizer of this year’s program.

During the week, participants were guided by the clerk, the speaker of the legislative assembly and Thebacha MLA and cabinet minister Michael Miltenberger talk in the inner workings of the government, Fournier said.

They also heard a presentation by St. Patrick High School’s Students Against Drinking and Driving program tackled the dangers of drunk driving.

The students also worked with staff from the office of the clerk on their members’ statements and motions that would be presented on Thursday during the culmination of the program – a mock session of the legislative assembly.

Coming from Fort Providence and the Deh Cho riding, Spencer Bonnetrouge, 14, took on the role of MLA Michael McLeod and his duties as the minister of transportation. During his minister’s statement, Bonnetrouge spoke about road safety in Canada and the NWT and the need for increased usage of seatbelts and helmets.

Being at Youth Parliament was a good experience because you get to make new friends and see what the MLAs do every day, said Bonnetrouge. He added, the MLAs are busier than he thought, with duties such as meetings and research and don’t seem to have time to get everything done.

MLAs also travel to the communities in their ridings and find out about their problems and take them back to the legislative assembly to see what can be done, said Gargan-Lacasse of Fort Simpson.

“I can imagine it would be pretty busy,” he said.

In addition to giving members’ statements, the students also debated five motions during the session. All of the motions, which covered topics including promotion of sexual health among youth and improving the quality of secondary education, were passed.

Gargan-Lacasse presented a motion demanding zero tolerance for bullying, a topic he feels strongly about.

“So many kids are getting bullied these days and might drop out and never come back, and in extreme cases commit suicide,” he said.

While both Bonnetrouge and Gargan-Lacasse are enthusiastic about their experiences in Youth Parliament neither is ready to commit to running to become an MLA in the future. Both said it’s something they’ll consider doing.

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