A Political Victary for Youth

Recently throughout the national media there have been concems about the lack of youth participation in politics throughout Canada, which should be a concem among youth, since inactivity undoubtedly leaves the younger generation out of the decisio- making process. An important fac- tor leading to this inactivity is the lack of young elected representa - tives, which leaves youth feeling that those elected do nct represent away from politics. For these rea- sms, it is exoraging to see sever - al young pegole nm for office in the recent provincial and mmici - pal electims a PEI. 25 year-old Will McFadden ran for the my- oralty of Charlottetown, while UPEI student Nick Boragina ran for the New Democrats in District 11 Parkdale-Belvedere, with Phillip MacDonald contesting District 1 Souris-Elmira.

307 University Ave

Vile Spactel Reradhaiote For Detivary Tos

HOLLAND we. COLLEGE

Phew wale ths watoar: w fie SPE, Boerne Cisse. oe ee ceesrernctae

Doubts among young people persisted however, as they saw some young candidates However, MacDonald put forth a strong campaign which came with- in just a few hundred votes of unseating veteran MLA Andy Moomey. Still, doubts may have young candidates could actually get elected to public office.

We can put those doubts to rest now. In the Summerside mumicipal election, 23 year-old UPEI graduate Tasia Lambe won the seat for Ward 5 Hillcrest - Platte River last Monday. It wes an impressive win at that, as she defeated the incumbent councillor and finance chair, Rom Dowling. shows that young people can indeed get elected to public office.

_ It represents a step forwerd for

young people in politics, ad alsoa step forward for the interests of young people.

Hopefully this victory will encourage more young candidates in future electims and encourage ' more political activity among young people, increasing our par- ticipation and inout into the piblic process. The more ve as students participate in the political fonm, the more often we can bring our issues to the table, and as stucents we face many crucial issues as we strive to further our education and find good careers.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND COMMISSION ON ELECTORAL REFORM

Atlantic Veterinary College Lecture Theatre ‘A’ Thursday, November 20th, 2003 7:30 p.m.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

UPE!I President Wade MacLauchlan Dr. Tom Connors Hon, Patrick Boyer

Everyone Welcome

Trans-Canada Trek: New Brunswick

Part 7 of 9

When we crossed the bor- der from Quebec into New Brunswick, we had to make a deci- sion. Time was beginning to run away from us. We had to decide whether to take the longer, wend- ing coastal route and see the Acadian villages or take the straighter inland route to Nova Scotia. I wanted to see the Acadian villages, but my friend was feeling the urgency to get back to Kingston, so we compromised and took the inland route to Kouchibouguac Park. I don't really feel it was much of a compromise, but at least the park was beautiful.

Camping at the park was full, so we had to go to a nearby private campground. But we went back to the park and had a swim at Kelly beach, which was out on a sand bar. That was pretty cool. There was a wooden board walk out to it and we saw some herons, plovers, and an osprey dive into the water for a fish. They kind of just hover there looking for a fish then just drop out of the sky into the water. We were skipping some stones and an Iranian family asked us to show them how to do it. The little girl obviously was paying attention because she got it right away, but the father was awkward at it, but he somehow managed to get a couple skips in before the stone sank.

We had dinner at a little restaurant that some people had converted an old house into called "Pizza cinq étoilles." I swear, that was the best pizza I have ever eaten in my life. We had the seafood pizza, and my friend said

it was like chowder on a pizza, but it was so good. They put a lot of seafood on it, too, which was great. Unfortunately, because we only stayed one night in New Brunswick, we didn't really get to see much of it. It appears (at least

from what I saw from the high-

way) that most of the people live on the coast. The inland highway was not really very interesting, although it is pretty.

I was very impressed with the level of bilingualism of the province. It seems as though every- one, at least in the northern part closer to Quebec, speaks both English and French fluently. Nowhere else in Canada have I come across that. And being from British Columbia, French is not a language you come across often anyway. I am envious of those that can speak both languages so flu- ently.

UPE!I Cadre November 10 2003 page 4