Parlement Jeunesse du Québec
Encyclopedia
| Formation: | 1949 |
| Legal name: | Association québécoise des jeunes parlementaires |
| Incorporated: | August 16 1988 |
| Headquarters: | Montréal Montreal Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America... (Québec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... ) |
| Event Place: | Parliament Building (Quebec) Parliament Building (Quebec) The Parliament Building is an eight-floor building and home to the Parliament of Quebec in Quebec City. The building was designed by architect Eugène-Étienne Taché and was built from 1877 to 1886. With the frontal tower, the building stands at 52 metres or 171 feet in height... Québec (Québec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... ) |
| Prime Minister, (2011): | Jérémie Gravel |
| Leader of Opposition (2011): | Mathieu Letendre |
| President of AQJP Board of Directors (2010-2011) : |
Régine Debrosse (2010-2011) |
| Members of the Executive (2010-2011): | Jérémie Gravel Mathieu Letendre Sophie Gagnon Raphaël Apolstolski-Weyland |
The Parlement jeunesse du Québec (PJQ) is one of a number of provincial
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
s across Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Each year, about a hundred of young participants, aged between 18 and 25, meet up in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
to discuss and debate like the real politicians. It aims to reproduce as faithfully as it can the functioning of the parliament of Quebec, the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
. Indeed, like the real parliament, the PJQ has its majority party that forms the government, led by the Prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, as well as the official opposition, led by the Leader of Opposition.
While similar in many ways to the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
, the PJQ also has many differences that distinguish it from the real parliament. The main one is that there is no vote by party (In the British parliamentary tradition, deputies are required to vote with their party, or else they face expulsion). In other words, deputies from each party are free to vote for what they truly believe, and the Opposition can even agree with the decisions of the Government! This allows more genuine debates and participants have a special opportunity of expressing their ideas without being held back by their party.
The PJQ is organized by the Quebecer Association of the Young Parliament Members inc (Association québécoise des jeunes parlementaires [AQJP]), a non-profit organization that is financed by the participation fees, by governmental subsidies, and by private sponsors.
Rules of Procedures
The Parlement jeunesse du Québec aims at reproducing as precisely as possible the proper functioning of the Parliament of Quebec. A fictive party with the majority of the house forms the government and the Prime minister at its head is facing the chief of the official opposition and his parliamentary group, the official opposition.The absence of party discipline
The Parlement jeunesse du Québec has nevertheless distinctive elements with regards to the authentic National Assembly. The major one is the absence of party discipline, which enables a member of the governmental party to freely vote against a bill initiated by the executive and presented by a minister of his own party. Likewise, a member of parliament from the opposition can freely support governmental bills. In addition, the ministerial solidarity does not exist.Those particularities aim at providing a better chance to every member of the simulation to speak their mind on the projects and participate in freer, more inclusive debates.
Legislative menu
For each edition of the parliamentary simulation, four bills are written, presented and defended by their fictive minister. As in the real legislative framework, a shadow minister of the official opposition has the responsibility of passing criticism on the project as well as offering alternative policies. All member of the parliamentary simulation are assigned, based on his or her preferences, to a commission that will exanimate more closely one of the four pieces of legislation debated. Accordingly, they have to conduct research on their particular topic and read the provided documentation beforehand to properly fulfill their role. Those who wish can also present their own private bill on subject of their interest and some will be chosen to follow the same legislative path as the other bills presented by ministers.The 50s
Religion at the core of debatesThe QYP held its first session in 1949, under the name “Older Boys’ Parliament of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
” (“OBPQ”). It was founded through the assistance of the Rev. Normand Hellier of the United Church
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
. The OBPQ was originally sponsored by the Boys’ Work Board of the Council of Christian Education. The members of the OBPQ were almost all members of Protestant churches – Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
, baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, and presbyterian. The goal of the simulation was “to captivate the interests of young men and to lead them towards a more profound and sane relation with their Church” (according to a founding document of 1953). Topics where chosen in advance with a religious connotation as in 1954 when the organization of the simulation stated that “Programs should be based on the four-fold theme expressed in Luke 2:52: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man”.
Establishing the legitimacy of the institution
The main goal of the first legislatures is principally for the PJQ to assert itself as a legitimate institution. Consequently, the debates are oriented towards:
-Proper apportionment for electoral ridings
-The election and the repartition of representatives for the diverse confessions
-The importance of non-partisanship
-The budget for the simulation
-The proper means of founding
Furthermore, the OBPQ was an Anglophone organization, conducting its debates and business in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
The 60s
Debates with a social touchThrough the 1960s the simulationprogressively moved away from its origins as church-sponsored boys’ organization and discussed various topics like the following:
-the acknowledgement of birth control as a moral intervention (1954)
-The establishment of stringent security norms for car manufacturers (1965)
-The responsibility of society with regards to people suffering of drug abuses (1967)
The Quiet Revolution perceptibly marked the debates throughout the decade. Here are some examples:
-A bill for the renewing and consolidation of the national identity (1967)
- The restriction of access to English schools (1969)
There is also a liberalization of customs, as can be demonstrated with legislative proposals of 1969:
-A bill aiming at the recognition of the positive effects of sexual relations before marriage and aiming at the legalization of abortion
-A bill aiming at legalizing prostitution
Taking sides
At the same time, the participants demonstrate their awareness to the international crises and conflicts while their debates often denounce particular situations:
-A bill denouncing the Apartheid in South Africa (1965)
-A bill urging the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
(1965)
-A bill on the rightness and usefulness of furnishing weapons during the Nigerian Civil War (1969)
The advent of women participation
In 1969, the Quebec Older Boys’ Parliament evolve by announcing an important change. By means of resolution, the participants decide that it is about time to include women in their debates. The bill allowing their presence states that “half of the youth of Quebec is not represented at this assembly… and considering that the women have the same rights of men”. It is thereby resolved to change the name of the institution to the Quebec Youth Parliament.
The 70s
Following the rhythm of changesThe vibrating aspect of the decade, both in terms of social, economical and political changes, is reflected in the content of the debates. Things change even more in the organization as the “share-selling” financing system principle is eventually abandoned and as a woman is elected as Prime minister for the first time.
Distancing itself from religion
Still profoundly religious at the beginning of the 1970s, the Quebec Youth Parliament demonstrates, beginning in 1975, increasing autonomy toward the church. A modification to the rules of the institutions replaces the term “Christian” with “moral” and the door is opened to other religions while the religious characteristics are retrieved from the proclamations at the end of the decade.
The Quebec Youth Parliament even presents a bill that questions the role of the Church in a modern society going as far as to propose that “the church should not try to involve itself with world or community problems and should then direct itself solely towards the spiritual development of man”.
Legislative proposals and front-line debates
This decade was influenced by vanguard legislative propositions like the following:
-Legalizing abortion (1970)
-The acceptance of sexual relations before marriage (1970)
-Endorsement of contraception methods and increased access to them (1970)
-Guaranteed universal access to the nursery services (1970)
-Pay equity for women (1970)
-Control of violent images in the medias (1970)
-Fight of sexism and sexual stereotypes in publicity (1972)
-Proposition for a genetic control of the population (1974)
For the welfare of society
Many bills presented involve social intervention for the welfare of the community. Debates take place around the importance of old-aged people, the fight of pollution, the control of consumption behaviors, labor peace, the rights of offenders or the proper treatment of prisoners.
A language at the center of discussions
By 1976, the year that the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
was first elected to govern Quebec, the QYP was still a largely anglophone organization. However, it introduced bills
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
supporting bilingual teaching and French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
integration of new immigrants. In the late 1970s, sponsorship by the Protestant churches declined, contemporaneous with an increase of French-speaking members.
The 80s
A French-speaking ParliamentBy the 1980s, the QYP became increasingly bilingual as bills were introduced in both English and French and debates occurred in both languages more often. All aspects of the organization are also affected, but the essential characteristics of the simulation, with non-partisanship principles at its core, are preserved.
Other interesting fact, the QYP was one of the eight Youth Parliaments that participated in the Youth Parliament of Canada/Parlement jeunesse du Canada
Youth Parliament of Canada/Parlement jeunesse du Canada
The Youth Parliament of Canada/Parlement jeunesse du Canada was a youth model parliament that met bi-annually, and later annually, in the 1980s...
("YPJ Canada") during all of its sessions in Ottawa from 1980 through 1991.
A French-speaking Prime minister
In 1986, a French-speaking Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
was elected as the head of the QYP for the first time. Within a year, the QYP became a French-speaking organization, with all documentation and legislation produced initially in French, the participants being mostly French-speaking, and the QYP changing its name once again, this time to “le Parlement jeunesse du Québec”.
A look at important debates of the decade
-Regulation and control of the implementation of casinos in Quebec (1983)
-Severe punishment of drunk driving (1984)
-Ban on smoking in indoors public areas (1985)
-Ban on the right to strike for the public sector.
The 90s
Ethics: Order of the DayThe legislative menu of the 1990s gives a large place to ethical questions and protection of rights. Modern questions, often related with the evolution of technology, are debated. Here are some examples:
-Surrogate mothers (1990)
-Decriminalization of euthanasia (1992)
-Human reproduction and genetics (1996)
The New Millennium
During this decade the PJQ welcomed French and Israeli delegations. In addition, for the first time since its history of existence, a delegation of Haitians observers was also invited to take part in this political simulation.A Heritage In Need of Reform
Becoming more conscientiously aware of the mishaps undergone by previous generations, the millennium years are subject to important projects of reform. Notably, there is a desire to rethink society’s make-up, by question the current model used since the Quiet Revolution dealing with providence states. This trend is observed in several projects, which aim to redefine the how privatization fits into Quebec society. A project used in the year 2000 concerns aspects of private investments in health care. Therefore, 7 years later, a project tackling the question of cost in the health sector set the stage to revise the actual Quebec policies on medications. Subsequently, this policy project proposed that generic medicines be fabricated in Quebec, and that only essential private brevets be purchased. In 2002, a charter originated dealing with the privatization of water in Quebec.
Moreover, current day society has been an important inspirational source for ministers in the millennium years. Hence, traces of the Oka Crisis in 1990 have been reoccurring popular topics of debate when deliberating on First Nation issues. It is interesting to note that this topic has been discussed three times in the last decade with charters dealing with governmental autonomy of Aboriginals in 2000, 2005 and 2008. In 2002 and 2009, a charter concentrating on the dubious question of democratic institutions sought to review the current set-up of Quebec’s political system. Furthermore, problems dealing with personal credit and overly-indebtedness were also the main subjects for a charter to be created in 2009, mainly encompassing the usage of high risk credit. The question pollution entails inspired another charter in 2004 aiming to create a market representing pollution rights.
Social Measures: A Forefront Action Plan
Despite the willpower to revise the role of the State, the millennium years paved the way to other important charters that aimed to better the quality of life for families. The following are some examples:
• Regimes dealing with parental maternity leave and other dispositions for families on the job market needing a leave of absence due to children (2000)
• Better access to the judicial system (2002)
• Normalizing the divorce process (2005)
• Job Security (2007)
The 2010 Decade Years
Currently taking placeThe 61st political simulation welcomed the beginning of a new era by dealing with four charters encompassing concrete issues in Quebec society, such as:
• The decriminalization of euthanasia and the legalization of assisted
• Reform on copyright laws
• The decriminalization of prostitution
• Media and Publicity Control
Regional Parliaments
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, members of the PJQ and other individuals developed a number of regional parliaments. These are completely independent from the PJQ, but remain in close contact with it. Regional parliaments, in various forms, have been established in Beauce, Montérégie, Outaouais, Mauricie, Estrie, Quebec CityQuebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, and the area of Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudière, but a limited number of them are currently active.
Partnership with the Youth Parliament of the French Community of Belgium
Starting in 1994, in collaboration with the Quebec-Wallonia-Brussels Agency for YouthQuebec-Wallonia-Brussels Agency for Youth
The Quebec-Wallonia-Brussels Agency for Youth is a semi-public international relations body that offers young people from Quebec, aged 18 to 30 years, the opportunity to gain experience in other countries through various programs involving missions and training courses in Wallonia and...
, the PJQ has accepted a number of Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
delegates as members of the PJQ. This opportunity provided a core of young Belgians with the experience to enable them to establish a Youth Parliament of the French Community of Belgium in 1997. Four members of the PJQ were invited to attend the first session. It has now become a tradition that both Quebecer and Belgium simulation receive a delegation from the other every year as a symbol of that initial partnership.
List of Premiers of the Parlement jeunesse du Québec since 1949
1949-50: Rodney Booth (1st)1951: Paul Webb (2nd)
1952: Paul Webb (3rd)
1953: Rodney Booth (4th)
1954: Warren Brown (5th)
1955: Don Luke (6th)
1956: Kent Garrett (7th)
1957: Doug Warren (8th)
1958: Bill Howes (9th)
1959: Peter Rowle (10th)
1960: Sydney Norman (11th)
1961: Sydney Norman (12th)
1962: Thomas Von Eicken (13th)
1963: Bill Machika (14th)
1964: Jim Hone (15th)
1965: Andrew Sancton (16th)
1966: Peter Allnutt (17th)
1967: Ian Thurston (18th)
1968: Russ Springate (19th)
1969: Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
(20th)
1970: Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
(21st)
1971: Bert Markgraff (22nd)
1972: Hugh Thomson / Steve Scanlon (23rd)
1973: Kenneth Peel (24th)
1974: David Lambie (25th)
1975: David Howes (26th)
1976: David Malcolm (27th)
1977: Peter MacArthur (28th)
1978: Cathy Hamilton Lambie (29th)
1979: Robert Peck (30th)
1980: Robert Ramage (31st)
1981: Tom Dunton (32nd)
1982: Russell Copeman
Russell Copeman
Russell Copeman is a Canadian politician. He was the Liberal Member of the National Assembly of Quebec representing the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce from 1994 to 2008....
(33rd)
1983: Stephen Bryce (34th)
1984: Ariel Delouya (35th)
1985: Lorne Gray (36th)
1986: Ira E. Lax (37th
1987: Philippe Paradis (38th)
1988: Sylvain Ross (39th)
1989: Denis Simard (40th)
1990: Éric Bédard (41st)
1991: Éric Wildhaber (42nd)
1992: Charles-André Sauvé (43rd)
1993: Yves Gaboriault (44th)
1994: Caroline Vallières (45th)
1995: Martin Francoeur (46th)
1996: Patrick Ferland (47th)
1997: Pierre-Yves Boivin (48th)
1998: Philippe de Grandmont (49th)
1999: Sébastien Roy (50th)
2000: Christian Ranger (51st)
2001: Catherine Perreault (52nd)
2002: Marc-Étienne Deslauriers (53rd)
2003: Julien Baudry (54th)
2004: Eve-Marie Quintin (55th)
2005: Alexandre Ramacieri (56th)
2006: François Beaudry (57th)
2007: Maxime Prévost-Desjardins (58th)
2008: Benoît Auger(59th)
2009: Geneviève Bois (60th)
2010: Christopher Campbell-Duruflé (61st)
2011: Jérémie Gravel (62nd)
List of leaders of the Official Opposition of the Parlement jeunesse du Québec since 1985
1985: Philippe Paradis (36th)1986: Sylvain Ross(37th)
1987: Michel Vincent (38th)
1988: Benoît Bessette (39th)
1989: Nicolas Plourde (40th)
1990: ? (41st)
1991: ? (42nd)
1992: ? (43rd)
1993: Marie-Hélène Gauthier (44th))
1994: Martin S. Côté (45th)
1995: Caroline Sauriol (46th)
1996: Benoît St-Sauveur (47th)
1997: Josée Laporte (48th)
1998: François Blondin (49th)
1999: Nicolas Poirier-Quesnel (50th)
2000: Catherine Perreault (51st)
2001: Michèle Houpert (52nd)
2002: Julien Baudry (53rd)
2003: Eve-Marie Quintin (54th)
2004: Alexandre Ramaceri (55th)
2005: Dominique Favreau (56th)
2006: Maxime Prévost-Desjardins (57th)
2007: Olivier Cournoyer-Boutin (58th)
2008: Saber Labidi (59th)
2009: Christopher Campbell-Duruflé (60th)
2010: Jérémie Gravel (61st)
2011: Mathieu Letendre (62nd)
External links
- Le Parlement jeunesse du Québec (official website in French only)