News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  


November 30, 1998
(Education)


The following statement was issued today by Roger Grimes, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I am pleased today, to report on the 46th session of the St. John's Regional Youth Parliament. This semi-annual event brought youth from all over the region together to debate issues in the parliamentary style. During the weekend, the participants had the opportunity to hear the views of other concerned youth and to voice their own views. They debated issues which are currently of interest to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and some which we have debated here in this House. This Youth Parliament has a long tradition and has been a spring board for a number of politicians who have led this province over the last five decades.

The St. John's Regional Youth Parliament is one of five regional youth parliaments in the province which offers our youth a forum for thoughtful debate in an atmosphere of respect, enthusiasm, and camaraderie. I wish to commend the organizers of the event, the Youth Parliament Association, and all participants. In particular I would like to recognize the Youth Parliament Premier, Dave Tarrant, The Leader of the Opposition, Rory MacParland, Ministers Adam Barnes, Andrea Goodman, and Myron Hedderson, and Opposition Critics Marc Field, Shannon Hunt, and our own House of Assembly Page, Lynn Hammond.

This type of exercise allows our youth to learn and understand our parliamentary rules and decorum. It was a great learning experience for participants and may well start the political careers of some of our future leaders. The level of debate was high and the youth participants were very impressive in their delivery.

I would also like to congratulate our MUN debating team which won a competition of 32 debating teams from the Atlantic Canadian Universities, held recently in Chalottetown, PEI. The two areas of competition included two person teams, debating issues in an impromptu fashion, and an individual public speaking competition. The MUN team of Ron Fitzpatrick and Dave Tarrant won the debating part of the competition and Shannon Hunt won the public speaking competition. This is the second year in a row that MUN has won this competition. Another MUN team placed third this year and five of the six teams from MUN placed in the top 10.

It is very encouraging to see the talents of our youth show-cased in these types of competition and it seems only fitting that we recognize them for their achievements. It bodes well for our future knowing that youth of this calibre will lead us into the new millennium.

1998 11 30                2:25 p.m.


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement