The Boys and Girls Club of Moncton is raising awareness on provincial politics with its youth.
On Thursday afternoon, representatives from four local candidates from the main political parties will participate in a panel discussion with nearly 30 youth.
Director of Communications and Resource Development Rebecca Campbell says this is a part of their Youth Votes programming, “It was really to start getting our young people engaged in the processes involved in democracy. To help them better understand that there are different levels of government, and what each of those levels are responsible for.”
Tomorrow’s panel will include the Progressive Conservative Candidate for Moncton Southwest, Sherry Wilson, Liberal Candidate for Moncton Centre, Rob McKee, NDP Leader, Mackenzie Thomason, and the Green Party candidate for Moncton Centre, Carole Chan. Campbell says the People’s Alliance Party did not respond to the club’s invitation.
When the election was called last month, the youth at the centre began asking a lot of questions, “Our young people were coming to us, asking what the signs were for, things like that. We started to realise this is something we need to start focusing on, to get them informed,” Campbell says.
After hearing from the candidates, the youth will be given the chance to present a question to the panel, to learn more about which party would be the best fit for them. A mock election will be held after that.
“We’re so glad that we took this on for the provincial election because once we started talking to our youth, we found their there really was a disconnection on a provincial level when it came to awareness. Many of them could identify their Prime Minister and their Mayor, but not the Premier,” Campbell says.
Her hope is to offer a similar political activities in the future, but to educate at the municipal and federal levels as well.
