Posted on 03/10/2008 7:06:49 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A rowdy Ontario legislature passed a hike in the sales tax and tolls on all highways yesterday.
Don't panic though, it was the Ontario Youth Parliament, sitting in London, that gave the green light to highway tolls to pay for our crumbling roads and to raise the provincial sales tax to nine per cent.
The 39th Ontario Youth Parliament continues today and tomorrow at Riverside United Church.
More than 100 delegates, age 14 to 21, beat the weather and arrived Friday for their annual meeting, held in London for the first time since 2003.
Welland delegate Mandy Lewis, a Grade 10 student, said she voted in favour of raising taxes.
"Canada is known for its social programs. I feel very strongly on that point that we should support social programs," she said.
Lewis hopes to gain a better understanding of Canadian politics while at the conference.
"Premier" Allan Thompson, 20, who was kicked out of yesterday's session for a time and replaced by a page, said the event is an opportunity for young people to develop speaking and debating skills as well as enhance their critical thinking.
"They're helping themselves to form a perspective on the world around them," he said.
Thompson, a third-year politics student at Huron University College, said all legislation passed this weekend will be forwarded to the Ontario government.
Youth Parliament alumnus Dave Duffus of Welland returned yesterday to hear some of the debate.
He said the conference teaches young people good leadership skills and is also a place to make friends.
"The relationships built last a lifetime," said Duffus, who was the premier in 1979 and went on to a management career in information technology.
The Youth Parliament, originally called the Older Boys' Parliament, operates from a Christian perspective.
After the delegates attend church this morning, the debates will resume, including whether to allow teachers to use Tasers in the classroom.
Delegates are billeted with members of the Riverside church congregation while in London.
BTTT!
Brains damaged by “education” at work!
Actually in 2008 it's spelt Doofus , Doofus McGuinty. He's the premier guy but a doofus none the less.
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