Youth Parliament of Manitoba

Youth Parliament of Manitoba

Formation	Founded: 1922 (1922) Incorporated: August 22, 1984 (1984-08-22)
Legal status	Registered charity
Board of directors	Xiao Zhang (Chairperson) Josephine Zhao (Past Chairperson) Charlize Medina (Director of Finance) Madison Jones (Vice-Chairperson) Jourmae Abengoza (Director of Procedures)
Website	https://www.ypmanitoba.ca
Formerly called	Older Boys' TUXIS Parliament of Manitoba (1922–1960) Older Boys' Parliament of Manitoba (1960–1972) Youth Parliament of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario (1972–2003)

Youth Parliament of Manitoba Inc. (YPM) is a non-partisan, non-denominational, and incorporated registered charity based in Manitoba, Canada.

Its mission is "to foster amongst the youth of Manitoba an understanding of, interest in, and engagement with the Canadian democratic parliamentary process that would enable their active participation in society as responsible citizens. In so doing, YPM strives to encourage the growth of the individual and their abilities through their exposure to a diversity of ideas and perspectives and the fellowship of their peers."

Activities

YPM's flagship event is Session, an annual model parliament that takes place from December 26 to 31 each year at the Manitoba Legislature open to all Manitoban youth aged 16 to 20. During Session, participants ("members") debate mock legislation according to parliamentary procedure as per YPM's Standing Orders. Throughout the week, members also have the opportunity to meet current and former politicians from the Manitoba Legislature and the House of Commons, partake in workshops, and socialize with fellow youth from across the province.

Every summer, YPM hosts Speaker's Night, its premier fundraising gala. Proceeds go towards supporting YPM's programming, financial aid capabilities, and operating costs. Recent keynote speakers have included Dr. Annette Trimbee, Susan Thompson, Senator Marilou McPhedran, Dr. Aimée Craft, and Wab Kinew.

YPM is a founding member of the Western Canada Youth Parliament and current Member Parliament of its successor, Canada Youth Parliament. In this capacity, it assists in the organization of, and nominates delegates to, the biennial Canada Youth Parliament.

History

In 1922, George Stewart, Lieutenant Governor of the Older Boys’ TUXIS Parliament of Manitoba, opened the first of a long line of annual sessions devoted to the development of leadership and awareness of the parliamentary system among the young men (and later, women) of Manitoba. It has since become one of the oldest Youth Parliaments in a network of similar organizations stretching across the country and the world. Although each of these Parliaments has a unique style and emphasis, all are based on the same basic principle of fostering knowledge of the parliamentary system amongst Canadian youth.

The Older Boys’ Parliament program began in Ontario as part of the TUXIS (“Training Under Christ In Service”) movement. Its original sponsors included various Protestant churches, such as the United Church of Canada, the Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches, the Salvation Army, and a variety of service groups such as the YMCA, De Molay and Kiwanis organizations. The movement's goal was to foster the development of the physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being of the person as inspired by the biblical passage Luke 2:52, which reads: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.” YPs, only one of many TUXIS activities, were designed for religious as well as parliamentary training. Though most YPs were at one time part of the TUXIS movement, only the TUXIS Youth Parliament of Alberta retains the name to this day.

In 1960, “TUXIS” was dropped from the name, leaving “Older Boys’ Parliament.” In 1968, it was decided that YPM would expand its focus by becoming open to youth from non-Protestant backgrounds, thereby becoming non-denominational. This meant that the Oath of Allegiance and the legislation placed before the house was no longer written for specific religious groups and with specifically religious purposes in mind.

On December 28, 1972, a special meeting of the organization was held to officially admit women as full members and to change the organization’s name to Youth Parliament of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario (YPMNO). Previously, female members had for some years been allowed to attend session but only as associate members who did not hold the right to vote on the matters debated in the house. Seven years later, Ann Thompson became the first female Premier of YPMNO.

In celebration of its 60th anniversary in 1981, YPMNO hosted a first-of-its-kind invitational session for all YPs in Western Canada. Two years later, the Western Canada Youth Parliament (WCYP) was officially formed, with its second session being hosted again in Winnipeg in the chambers of City Council. Our organization has since hosted WCYP on three other occasions, in 1993, 2002 and most recently in 2010.

The organization successfully incorporated in 1984 and gained full charitable status. In 2003, the organization voted to shorten its name to Youth Parliament of Manitoba (YPM).

In 2007, YPM hosted its first annual Spring Session in Manitoba. In 2008, YPM hosted its first annual Speaker’s Night fundraising dinner. In 2019, it elected its first all-female Executive. In 2021, it celebrated its 100th annual Session.

Past Premiers

Year	Parliament	Premier	Lieutenant Governor
1922	1	E.A. Armstrong	George H. Stewart
1923	2	Erie L. Jackson	John Martin
1924	3	Frank Fidler	J. H. Dowler
1925	4	Darwin Chase	R. G. Taylor
1926	5	John Gilmer	The Hon. F. M. Black
1927	6	John Gilmer	Judge F. A. E. Hamilton
1928	7	John Dunderdale	J. L. Bathgate
1929	8	William Moore Benidickson	Dr. John Mackay
1930	9	Vivian M. Rogers	Prof. Watson Kirkconnell
1931	10	Mervyn Sprung	Magistrate R. B. Graham
1932	11	Donald Ross	C. R. Sayer
1933	12	George S. Thurton	Canon H. G. G. Herkots
1934	13	Joseph Benson	Rev. J. W. Clarke
1935	14	James M Taylor	Rev. J. W. Little
1936	15	J. S. McArdle	B. V. Richardson
1937	16	Donald L. Mackay	C. E. Stockdill
1938	17	Wilson Milne	C. N. Halstead
1939	18	Raymond Threson	E. J. J. Glenesk
1940	19	Frederick Tallman	The Hon. Sidney Earle Smith, P.C.
1941	20	Aitken Harvey	A. C. Campbell
1942	21	Frederick Bickell	Prof. A.. R. Cragg
1943	22	Maurice Helston	Rev. George A. MacMillan
1944	23	Lynn Watt	Dr. Robert Fletcher
1945	24	Thomas Goulding	The Hon. D. C. McKenzie
1946	25	Garth Campbell	Arch. J. Barr
1947	26	Robert H. Johnson	John A. M. Edwards
1948	27	William Norrie	E. H. Morgan
1949	28	J. A. C. Magee	C. H. P. Killick
1950	29	Doug Mauchlan	Prof. R. Fletcher
1951	30	Alan G. Gardiner	Dr. W. C. Graham
1952	31	Harry T. Makin	Nelson Mc Ewen
1953	32	Victor Mearon	Mayor N. J. Black
1954	33	Robert A. Steen	Canon L. F. Wilmont
1955	34	Lawrie Smith	H. L. Mackinnon
1956	35	Waldron Fox-Decent	Dr. W. C. Lockhart
1957	36	Don King	C. G. Carter
1958	37	Graeme Garson	T. M. Miller
1959	38	Doug McEwan	Dr. H. H. Saunderson
1960	39	Lloyd Axworthy	Dr. Earl J. Treusch
1961	40	Mike Quiggin	D. L. Campbell
1962	41	Denis Corrie	Prof. W. L. Morton
1963	42	Bruce Doern	The Hon. Stanley H. Knowles, P.C.
1964	43	Neil Gailbraith	Rev. J. O. Anderson
1965	44	Gary Scherbain	The Hon. Errick Willis
1966	45	Jim Lightbody	Dr. D. B. Macdonald
1967	46	Hugh Stephens	Bishop Antoine Hacault
1968	47	Tom Axworthy	Magistrate Isaac Rice
1969	48	Philip Reece	Dr. George Johnson
1970	49	Bob Williamson	Dean C. Edwards
1971	50	John Romanow	Charles Hubband
1972	51	Ron Miller	Rev. D. O. Reece
1973	52	Laurie Swardfager	Juiles Koteles
1974	53	Paul DuVal	Dr. Ben Hog
1975	54	Chris Guest	Muriel Smith
1976	55	Andrew Treusch	Judge Peter Teraska
1977	56	Gordon Du Val	The Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer, P.C., C.C., C.M.M., O.M., C.D.
1978	57	Dave Najduch	Paul DuVal, Sr.
1979	58	Ann Thompson	The Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, P.C., O.C., O.M., Norman Axworthy
1980	59	Ian Manson	Olga Fuga
1981	60	Darren Praznik	Judge Graeme Carson
1982	61	Jim Bell	Dr. Carl Ridd
1983	62	Bruce Johannson	The Hon. Gildas Molgat, P.C.
1984	63	Dmytro Dutka	William Norrie, C.M., O.M., Q.C.
1985	64	Patricia Chaychuk	Hon. William Blakie, P.C., M.P.
1986	65	Erminia Pallone	Gary Filmon
1987	66	Nasir Faruqui	The Hon. Sharon Carstairs, P.C.
1988	67	Glen Hickerson	Prof. Jack London, Q.C.
1989	68	Sean Crick	Howard Pawley, P.C. Q.C.
1990	69	Michelle Elvers-Crick	The Hon. Murray Sinclair
1991	70	James Muir	Waldron Fox-Decent, C.M., C.M.M., O.M., C.D.
1992	71	Christine Barnson	Gary Doer
1993	72	J.P. Lapointe	Terry Duguid
1994	73	Mark Matz	Philip Weiss
1995	74	Cindy Fleury	Bruce C. Daniels
1996	75	Darcy Rollins	Dr. Robert J. Young
1997	76	Nichole Cyr	Richard Cloutier
1998	77	Ken Yost	Darren Praznik
1999	78	Alan Fehr	Prof. Donald Bailey
2000	79	Donna Chanas	John Perry
2001	80	Mercedes Alcock	Patricia Chaychuck
2002	81	Micah Melnyk	Ann Thompson
2003	82	Michael Feuerstein	Erminia Johannson
2004	83	Carlee-ann Dueck	Philip Reece
2005	84	Michael Urban	Dave Najduch
2006	85	Dana Gregoire	Bob Haverluck
2007	86	Katie Szilagyi	Dr. Bruce W. Warner
2008	87	Amy Dhillon	Mark Matz
2009	88	Jennifer Pawluk	Andrew Treusch
2010	89	Darcy Vermeulen	Ruth Wilson
2011	90	Darren Haber	Darcy Rollins
2012	91	Bojan Pirnat	Donna Chanas
2013	92	Andrew Jones	Muriel Smith
2014	93	Brent Hardy	Sachit Mehra
2015	94	Kamal Dhillon	Clif Evans
2016	95	Joseph Broda	Dr. Kristel van Ineveld
2017	96	Ariel Melamedoff	Paulo Fernandes
2018	97	Adrienne Tessier	Dr. Aimée Craft
2019	98	Deborah Tsao	Amy Dhillon
2020	99	Abigaïl Theano-Pudwill	Stuart Olmstead
2021	100	Nina Lam	Dr. Brent Roussin
2022	101	Jacob Harvey	The Hon. Murray Sinclair
2023	102	Josephine Zhao	Dr. Katie Szilagyi
2024	103	Xiao Zhang	Alicia Dueck-Read

Organizational structure

YPM bases its organizational structure and nomenclature on the Westminster parliamentary system. The membership structure of YPM is made up of three main components: the Executive, the Cabinet, and Backbenchers. All members of YPM are between the ages of 16 and 25.

Executive

Youth Parliament of Manitoba Inc. is governed by a five-person Executive, who legally function as the corporation's board of directors. Each person is elected for a one-year term by and from the membership on the last day of Session. All directors are volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25. The positions on the board are:

• the Past-Chairperson (Speaker),
• the Chairperson (Premier),
• the Director of Finance (Deputy Speaker),
• the Vice-Chairperson (Deputy Premier), and
• the Director of Procedures (House Leader).

Cabinet

The Cabinet is YPM's volunteer organizing committee, appointed by the Executive from the members (attendees) of the previous Session. The Cabinet assists the Executive in organizing and holding Session. Current Cabinet portfolios include:

• Ministry of Alumni Affairs
• Ministry of Communications
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of External Affairs
• Ministry of Government Services
• Ministry of Human Resources
• Ministry of Internal Affairs
• Ministry of Labour
• Ministry of Publications
• Ministry of Public Relations
• Ministry of Revenue
• Ministry of Supply and Service
• Registrar General
• Whips (Armstrong and Thompson)

Backbenchers

All non-Executive and non-Cabinet members of YPM sit as Backbenchers during Session.

Dignitaries

Lieutenant governor

Each year, the board of directors invites a distinguished member of the community (in recent years, often a former member) to act as the lieutenant governor (LG). The LG officially opens and prorogues the session, reads the Speech from the Throne, and makes a brief presentation to the membership.

Honorary president

The honorary president (HP) is a prominent citizen of Manitoba who serves as an advisor for the organization. At Session, they attend the opening and closing ceremonies.

Traditional Knowledge Keeper

The Traditional Knowledge Keeper advises the organization on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Manitoba. At Session, they conduct a traditional Indigenous teaching on the first and last days.

Notable alumni

Many of YPM's past members have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields. Some of the organization's prominent past members include:

• Lloyd Axworthy (former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, former president and vice-chancellor of the University of Winnipeg)
• Bill Norrie (former Mayor of Winnipeg)
• Tom Axworthy (principal secretary to Pierre Trudeau from 1981 to 1984)
• Robert Steen (former Mayor of Winnipeg)
• Wally Fox-Decent (former chair of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba)

By decision of the Board, former members of YPM who have made outstanding contributions to the organization are eligible to be appointed to the organization's Senate.

See also

• Parlement jeunesse franco-manitobain
• Youth Parliament of Canada/Parlement jeunesse du Canada

External links

• Youth Parliament of Manitoba website