The Globe and Mail

The end of January brought with it the first session of Parliament in 2012 – or at least, that’s what most Canadians believe.

The truth is that during Parliament’s six-week winter hiatus, the House of Commons was hardly vacant, although it accommodated a very different audience than usual. From Jan. 18 to Jan. 20, more than 300 students from Queen’s University travelled to Ottawa to take part in the 65th session of Queen’s Model Parliament.

QMP, originally founded in 1947, is a long-standing Queen’s University tradition that began as a small congregation held on campus in iconic Grant Hall. For decades, it has served as a vibrant forum for a wide array of young and aspiring delegates, including notable alumni such as Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. It is a diverse and highly sought-after experience held in the House of Commons Chamber – a privilege granted exclusively to Queen’s and one other Canadian university.

But what is it about Queen’s Model Parliament that makes it a success year after year? Here is my perspective, after participating for the first time at QMP 2012.

In the weeks leading up to QMP, there was a flurry of student activity on campus as 307 avid delegates divided themselves among the five major parties. The results of this process differed drastically from real-life Canadian politics: They produced a Green Party minority government with the Liberal Party as Official Opposition, reflecting the values of a younger, more eco-friendly generation of Canadians.

As part of QMP’s independent journalist program, I worked in a team of 12 students to cover the events leading up to and including the conference in its official newspaper, The Parliamentary Post.

The journalists attended numerous caucus meetings on campus, where delegates actively engaged in political discourse while working to craft a series of unique bills. One was the Conservative Party’s “Act to Enact Conservative Culture,” which proposed the formation of The Knights of Canada – an elite group responsible for protecting the nation. I watched, amused, as the bill stipulated that all “Knights” were to be over the age of 65, and were to enjoy benefits such as the lifetime use of a “Knights-only” highway lane. Other bills addressed more serious issues, however. A particularly poignant Liberal bill demanded an increased allocation of resources to counter the stigmas associated with issues of mental health.

The conference itself was an elegant, action-packed affair with more than a $100,000 budget. Delegates were housed in Ottawa’s prestigious Château Laurier, a stone’s throw from Parliament. Individual sessions in the House of Commons were presided over by 15 Speakers, including Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and former Liberal leader Stéphane Dion. Both shared interesting political and personal anecdotes with students. Under their direction, delegates eloquently debated bills in both official languages amid a ceaseless flow of playful heckling.

Over the course of these three days, I was inspired to watch my peers unite in the greatest demonstration of solidarity, grace and passion that I have witnessed during my four years at Queen’s. It was a unique experience that greatly reaffirmed my faith in Canada’s next generation of leaders, and one that I would highly recommend to young students interested in Canadian politics.