Straight Talk

Justin Trudeau looking for "next generation of Canadian leadership" for first-ever Prime Minister's Youth Council

by Lucy Lau on July 19th, 2016 at 12:30 PM
    1 of 1 2 of 1

      Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter to conduct a live Q&A today (July 19) about Canada’s first-ever Prime Minister’s Youth Council.

      The establishment of the council fulfills Trudeau’s election pledge to create a national youth committee to “provide advice to cabinet on issues facing the country”.

      According to a recently launched online platform, the Prime Minister’s Youth Council will consist of up to 30 Canadians between the ages of 16 and 24, who will “provide non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister on national issues such as employment, access to education, building stronger communities as well as climate change and clean growth”.

      Other concerns may include “high unemployment, rising student debt, and a lack of affordable housing”.

      The group will have direct contact with Trudeau, who, upon his election as Prime Minister in November, appointed himself Canada’s Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth. Members will meet a number of times every year—both in-person and online—to discuss issues which are important to them, their communities, and Canada as a whole.

      These discussions will inform the government’s policy-making process.

      In an effort to form a group that is racially, geographically, and socioeconomically representative of Canada’s population, Trudeau hopes to reach out to various youth organizations, such as 4-H Canada and the National Inuit Youth Council.

      And you can bet that the council will have an equal number of men and women.

      Trudeau also noted that the committee’s members do not need to support the Liberal Party.

      Before signing off, the Prime Minister took some time to express his interest in the upcoming Star Wars movie, and to dispel rumours about whether he and MP Peter Schiefke will be starting a boy band.

      Online applications for the “first wave” of Youth Council members open across Canada this Friday (July 22). Interested applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 24, and must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or protected person. Positions are held for a maximum of two years.

      The deadline for the first wave of members is August 12 and successful applicants will meet Trudeau in early October. Those interested in applying as part of the “second wave” of members have until October 7 to apply. Successful applicants from this group will meet Trudeau in 2017.

      Follow Lucy Lau on Twitter @lucylau.
      Click here to report a typo.

      Lucy Lau

      @lucylau

      Lucy was a staff writer at the Straight from 2015 to 2018. She covered a myriad of topics, including, but not limited to, design, style, green living, and arts, culture, and film. When not writing, she can be found catching up on Justin Bieber’s latest antics (no prenup, though?), fine-...

      Go to profile

      Comments