Youth Parliament of Manitoba

Youth Parliament of Manitoba Inc. (YPM) is a non-partisan, non-denominational, and incorporated registered charity based in Manitoba, Canada.

Its mission is "to foster amongst the youth of Manitoba an understanding of, interest in, and engagement with the Canadian democratic parliamentary process that would enable their active participation in society as responsible citizens. In so doing, YPM strives to encourage the growth of the individual and their abilities through their exposure to a diversity of ideas and perspectives and the fellowship of their peers."

Activities YPM's flagship event is Session, an annual model parliament that takes place from December 26 to 31 each year at the Manitoba Legislature open to all Manitoban youth aged 16 to 20. During Session, participants ("members") debate mock legislation according to parliamentary procedure as per YPM's Standing Orders. Throughout the week, members also have the opportunity to meet current and former politicians from the Manitoba Legislature and the House of Commons, partake in workshops, and socialize with fellow youth from across the province.

Every summer, YPM hosts Speaker's Night, its premier fundraising gala. Proceeds go towards supporting YPM's programming, financial aid capabilities, and operating costs. Recent keynote speakers have included Dr. Annette Trimbee, Susan Thompson, Senator Marilou McPhedran, Dr. Aimée Craft, and Wab Kinew.

YPM is a founding member of the Western Canada Youth Parliament and current Member Parliament of its successor, Canada Youth Parliament. In this capacity, it assists in the organization of, and nominates delegates to, the biennial Canada Youth Parliament.

History In 1922, George Stewart, Lieutenant Governor of the Older Boys’ TUXIS Parliament of Manitoba, opened the first of a long line of annual sessions devoted to the development of leadership and awareness of the parliamentary system among the young men (and later, women) of Manitoba. It has since become one of the oldest Youth Parliaments in a network of similar organizations stretching across the country and the world. Although each of these Parliaments has a unique style and emphasis, all are based on the same basic principle of fostering knowledge of the parliamentary system amongst Canadian youth.

The Older Boys’ Parliament program began in Ontario as part of the TUXIS (“Training Under Christ In Service”) movement. Its original sponsors included various Protestant churches, such as the United Church of Canada, the Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches, the Salvation Army, and a variety of service groups such as the YMCA, De Molay and Kiwanis organizations. The movement's goal was to foster the development of the physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being of the person as inspired by the biblical passage Luke 2:52, which reads: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.” YPs, only one of many TUXIS activities, were designed for religious as well as parliamentary training. Though most YPs were at one time part of the TUXIS movement, only the TUXIS Youth Parliament of Alberta retains the name to this day.

In 1960, “TUXIS” was dropped from the name, leaving “Older Boys’ Parliament.” In 1968, it was decided that YPM would expand its focus by becoming open to youth from non-Protestant backgrounds, thereby becoming non-denominational. This meant that the Oath of Allegiance and the legislation placed before the house was no longer written for specific religious groups and with specifically religious purposes in mind.

On December 28, 1972, a special meeting of the organization was held to officially admit women as full members and to change the organization’s name to Youth Parliament of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario (YPMNO). Previously, female members had for some years been allowed to attend session but only as associate members who did not hold the right to vote on the matters debated in the house. Seven years later, Ann Thompson became the first female Premier of YPMNO.

In celebration of its 60th anniversary in 1981, YPMNO hosted a first-of-its-kind invitational session for all YPs in Western Canada. Two years later, the Western Canada Youth Parliament (WCYP) was officially formed, with its second session being hosted again in Winnipeg in the chambers of City Council. Our organization has since hosted WCYP on three other occasions, in 1993, 2002 and most recently in 2010.

The organization successfully incorporated in 1984 and gained full charitable status. In 2003, the organization voted to shorten its name to Youth Parliament of Manitoba (YPM).

In 2007, YPM hosted its first annual Spring Session in Manitoba. In 2008, YPM hosted its first annual Speaker’s Night fundraising dinner. In 2019, it elected its first all-female Executive. In 2021, it celebrated its 100th annual Session.

Past Premiers Year Parliament Premier Lieutenant Governor 1922 1 E.A. Armstrong George H. Stewart 1923 2 Erie L. Jackson John Martin 1924 3 Frank Fidler J. H. Dowler 1925 4 Darwin Chase R. G. Taylor 1926 5 John Gilmer The Hon. F. M. Black 1927 6 John Gilmer Judge F. A. E. Hamilton 1928 7 John Dunderdale J. L. Bathgate 1929 8William Moore Benidickson Dr. John Mackay 1930 9 Vivian M. Rogers Prof. Watson Kirkconnell 1931 10 Mervyn Sprung Magistrate R. B. Graham 1932 11 Donald Ross C. R. Sayer 1933 12 George S. Thurton Canon H. G. G. Herkots 1934 13 Joseph Benson Rev. J. W. Clarke 1935 14 James M Taylor Rev. J. W. Little 1936 15 J. S. McArdle B. V. Richardson 1937 16 Donald L. Mackay C. E. Stockdill 1938 17 Wilson Milne C. N. Halstead 1939 18 Raymond Threson E. J. J. Glenesk 1940 19 Frederick TallmanThe Hon. Sidney Earle Smith, P.C. 1941 20 Aitken Harvey A. C. Campbell 1942 21 Frederick Bickell Prof. A.. R. Cragg 1943 22 Maurice Helston Rev. George A. MacMillan 1944 23 Lynn Watt Dr. Robert Fletcher 1945 24 Thomas Goulding The Hon. D. C. McKenzie 1946 25 Garth Campbell Arch. J. Barr 1947 26 Robert H. Johnson John A. M. Edwards 1948 27William Norrie E. H. Morgan 1949 28 J. A. C. Magee C. H. P. Killick 1950 29 Doug Mauchlan Prof. R. Fletcher 1951 30 Alan G. Gardiner Dr. W. C. Graham 1952 31 Harry T. Makin Nelson Mc Ewen 1953 32 Victor Mearon Mayor N. J. Black 1954 33Robert A. Steen Canon L. F. Wilmont 1955 34 Lawrie Smith H. L. Mackinnon 1956 35Waldron Fox-Decent Dr. W. C. Lockhart 1957 36 Don King C. G. Carter 1958 37 Graeme Garson T. M. Miller 1959 38 Doug McEwan Dr. H. H. Saunderson 1960 39Lloyd Axworthy Dr. Earl J. Treusch 1961 40 Mike Quiggin D. L. Campbell 1962 41 Denis Corrie Prof. W. L. Morton 1963 42 Bruce DoernThe Hon. Stanley H. Knowles, P.C. 1964 43 Neil Gailbraith Rev. J. O. Anderson 1965 44 Gary Scherbain The Hon. Errick Willis 1966 45 Jim Lightbody Dr. D. B. Macdonald 1967 46 Hugh Stephens Bishop Antoine Hacault 1968 47Tom Axworthy Magistrate Isaac Rice 1969 48 Philip Reece Dr. George Johnson 1970 49 Bob Williamson Dean C. Edwards 1971 50 John Romanow Charles Hubband 1972 51 Ron Miller Rev. D. O. Reece 1973 52 Laurie Swardfager Juiles Koteles 1974 53 Paul DuVal Dr. Ben Hog 1975 54 Chris GuestMuriel Smith 1976 55 Andrew Treusch Judge Peter Teraska 1977 56 Gordon Du ValThe Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer,P.C., C.C., C.M.M., O.M., C.D. 1978 57 Dave Najduch Paul DuVal, Sr. 1979 58 Ann ThompsonThe Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, P.C., O.C., O.M., Norman Axworthy 1980 59 Ian Manson Olga Fuga 1981 60Darren Praznik Judge Graeme Carson 1982 61 Jim Bell Dr. Carl Ridd 1983 62 Bruce JohannsonThe Hon. Gildas Molgat, P.C. 1984 63 Dmytro DutkaWilliam Norrie, C.M., O.M., Q.C. 1985 64 Patricia ChaychukHon. William Blakie, P.C., M.P. 1986 65 Erminia PalloneGary Filmon 1987 66 Nasir FaruquiThe Hon. Sharon Carstairs, P.C. 1988 67 Glen Hickerson Prof. Jack London, Q.C. 1989 68 Sean CrickHoward Pawley, P.C. Q.C. 1990 69 Michelle Elvers-Crick The Hon. Murray Sinclair 1991 70 James MuirWaldron Fox-Decent, C.M., C.M.M., O.M., C.D. 1992 71 Christine BarnsonGary Doer 1993 72 J.P. LapointeTerry Duguid 1994 73 Mark Matz Philip Weiss 1995 74 Cindy Fleury Bruce C. Daniels 1996 75 Darcy Rollins Dr. Robert J. Young 1997 76 Nichole Cyr Richard Cloutier 1998 77 Ken YostDarren Praznik 1999 78 Alan Fehr Prof. Donald Bailey 2000 79 Donna Chanas John Perry 2001 80 Mercedes Alcock Patricia Chaychuck 2002 81 Micah Melnyk Ann Thompson 2003 82 Michael Feuerstein Erminia Johannson 2004 83 Carlee-ann Dueck Philip Reece 2005 84 Michael Urban Dave Najduch 2006 85 Dana Gregoire Bob Haverluck 2007 86 Katie Szilagyi Dr. Bruce W. Warner 2008 87 Amy Dhillon Mark Matz 2009 88 Jennifer Pawluk Andrew Treusch 2010 89 Darcy Vermeulen Ruth Wilson 2011 90 Darren Haber Darcy Rollins 2012 91 Bojan Pirnat Donna Chanas 2013 92 Andrew Jones Muriel Smith 2014 93 Brent Hardy Sachit Mehra 2015 94 Kamal Dhillon Clif Evans 2016 95 Joseph Broda Dr. Kristel van Ineveld 2017 96 Ariel Melamedoff Paulo Fernandes201897Adrienne TessierDr. Aimée Craft201998Deborah TsaoAmy Dhillon202099Abigaïl Theano-PudwillStuart Olmstead2021100Nina LamDr. Brent Roussin2022101Jacob HarveyThe Hon. Murray Sinclair2023102Josephine ZhaoDr. Katie Szilagyi2024103Xiao ZhangAlicia Dueck-Read2025104Charlize MedinaDave Shuttleworth

Organizational structure YPM bases its organizational structure and nomenclature on the Westminster parliamentary system. The membership structure of YPM is made up of three main components: the Executive, the Cabinet, and Backbenchers. All members of YPM are between the ages of 16 and 25.

Executive

Youth Parliament of Manitoba Inc. is governed by a five-person Executive, who legally function as the corporation's board of directors. Each person is elected for a one-year term by and from the membership on the last day of Session. All directors are volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25. The positions on the board are:

the Past-Chairperson (Speaker), the Chairperson (Premier), the Director of Finance (Deputy Speaker), the Vice-Chairperson (Deputy Premier), and the Director of Procedures (House Leader).

Cabinet

The Cabinet is YPM's volunteer organizing committee, appointed by the Executive from the members (attendees) of the previous Session. The Cabinet assists the Executive in organizing and holding Session. Current Cabinet portfolios include:

Ministry of Alumni Affairs Ministry of Communications Ministry of Defence Ministry of External Affairs Ministry of Government Services Ministry of Human Resources Ministry of Internal Affairs Ministry of Agri-Food Ministry of Publications Ministry of Public Relations Ministry of Revenue Ministry of Supply and Service Ministry of Reconciliation Registrar General Secretary of State Whips (Armstrong and Thompson)

Backbenchers

All non-Executive and non-Cabinet members of YPM sit as Backbenchers during Session.

Dignitaries

Lieutenant governor

Each year, the board of directors invites a distinguished member of the community (in recent years, often a former member) to act as the lieutenant governor (LG). The LG officially opens and prorogues the session, reads the Speech from the Throne, and makes a brief presentation to the membership.

Honorary president

The honorary president (HP) is a prominent citizen of Manitoba who serves as an advisor for the organization. At Session, they attend the opening and closing ceremonies.

Traditional Knowledge Keeper The Traditional Knowledge Keeper advises the organization on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Manitoba. At Session, they conduct a traditional Indigenous teaching on the first and last days.

Notable alumni Many of YPM's past members have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields. Some of the organization's prominent past members include: Lloyd Axworthy (former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, former president and vice-chancellor of the University of Winnipeg) Bill Norrie (39th Mayor of Winnipeg) Tom Axworthy (principal secretary to Pierre Trudeau from 1981 to 1984)