The B.C. Youth Parliament (BCYP) is in session. From Dec. 27-31, youth aged between 16 and 21 will be meeting virtually to learn more about parliamentary procedure and public service.
The Omicron variant scuppered plans to meet in person at the Legislative Assembly in Victoria, with the event instead shifting to virtual for the second year in a row.
“While we are disappointed to not be gathering in the BC Legislature, we are committed to providing a positive experience for our members and charting our plans for the year ahead,” Kishoore Ramanthan, premier of the youth parliament, said in a statement.
Unlike its adult counterpart, the youth parliament is nonpartisan, with each member acting as an independent member with all votes being free votes.
The organization was founded in 1924 and has been meeting every year between Christmas and New Year to debate projects and plans for the upcoming year.
Projects the organization runs include Regional Youth Parliaments to teach high school students about parliamentary democracy and Camp Phoenix, a sleep-away summer camp for kids who would not otherwise be able to attend summer camp.
Plans for new projects are debated and passed as legislation during the session.
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