March 29, 2010
Create Your Canada in Winnipeg
Winnipeg Free Press
On the engagement front, Winnipeg NDP MP Pat Martin this week is awaiting the results from his contest giving a high school student in his riding a chance to make public policy.
His Create Your Canada contest is in its final stages. It builds on an idea from Martin’s colleague, British Columbia NDP MP Nathan Cullen, who in 2008 invited middle and high school students in his riding to submit proposals for legislation they’d like to see introduced in the House of Commons. The winners had their ideas turned into real legislation. Cullen introduced one to create bike lanes across the country and the other to ban asbestos exports. Unfortunately, neither made it to the floor for debate after being introduced.
Cullen is repeating the contest this year, along with Martin and Vancouver NDP MP Don Davies.
More than three dozen high school students from Martin’s riding submitted proposals. An independent judge appointed by the school division is evaluating them now. A winner should be announced in early April, and the winner will be flown to Ottawa to watch Martin introduce the bill sometime in May.
