.
Search
Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleWrite letter to editor  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad
Canada wants local thoughts on policy

Non-profit organization consults Iqaluit on urban and community issues

Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (July 15/02) - A community consultation held July 10 in Iqaluit will be the subject of a nationwide report for policy-makers across Canada.

Eleven other cities in North America will also be part of the report.

Canada25, which held the event, is a non-profit, non-partisan organization.

It was started by university students in 2000 with the hope of giving people between the ages of 20 to 35 a voice when it comes to public policy discussion in Canada.

It also acts as a resource to senior decision-makers looking to involve young people.

It does not represent the political views of any party or ideology.

Iqaluit consultation co-ordinator Robin Rix said the goal of the organization to increase the interest and participation of young people in public policy.

"There was a perception that people in their 20s didn't have an outlet for their opinion," said Rix.

"This is a way of giving them one."

People who came to the consultation were asked to write down their thoughts and ideas concerning a variety of different areas, such as social development and economic innovation.

The responses were numerous. Some of the anonymous comments noted the need to begin exporting more Inuit crafts to southern Canada and to provide more funding for Inuit movies.

They also outlined some issues with urban design. The big ones included the need for sidewalks, more parks, a bus service and a better recycling program.

Rix said the response to the consultation was positive.

He explained that this sort of event gives people in the North a chance to be heard on a national level.

"There were some reasonable suggestions. I think most young people think growth is a good thing, but they want it to be sustainable," said Rix.

Along with the national report, the responses from the Iqaluit consultation will make up a two or three page report specifically on the North.

It will also be sent to policy makers across the country.