HISTORY
2019 History of Model Parliament | Histoire du Parlement simulé en 2019
Written by / écrit par Adrian Krzyzanowski
The history of Model Parliament picks up again in the 27th installment which was held in January of 2019. It featured a Conservative government led by Eden Elliot as Prime Minister and Katlyn Kotila leading the Green party as the official opposition. Unfortunately due to the construction in the House of Commons, proceedings would be held in the Sir John A. McDonald Hall. Fortunately though the day was saved by the great work of Neil McGraw who retook his role as Speaker. Let us not forget some of the things that helped us get through the day like the ananas but not forget that we already have another year on the horizon. Hopefully 2020 is as good as 2019
A Brief(ish)History of Model Parliament | Un historique en bref du Parlement simulé
Courtesy of / Courtoisie de Dr. Rand Dyck
Laurentian University held its first Model Parliament in October 1992. It was the inspiration of Daniel Charbonneau, then a Political Science student at Laurentian, who had read that Prime Minister Brian Mulroney got his initial taste for politics in just such a setting. Dan worked with Rick Sleaver and Jean Dennie, other student-political activists, and Dr. Rand Dyck, who taught Canadian Politics in the Department, to organize that first effort, which was held in the Sudbury Regional Council chamber. Based loosely on the Ontario provincial political situation of the day, Jean Dennie functioned as the NDP Premier. It was a two-day affair, with Laurentian President Ross Paul acting as Governor General, and assorted local politicians served in the Speaker’s chair. The following year, based on the federal political scene, a Liberal government was in office under Prime Minister Dan Charbonneau. .
By 1995, the group was too large for the Council chamber, so the Model Parliament shifted to the Teachers’ College cafeteria. SGA President Troy Whetstone took the initiative to hang blue drapes around the walls, providing a realistic appearance of a legislative chamber. Then, in 1996 and 1997, the Model Parliament was held in Laurentian’s Great Hall. In the former year, Rand constructed an elaborate wooden frame on which to hang the same blue drapes, and in the latter year, Chuck Martin substituted an equally elaborate metal frame for the same purpose. It almost looked real! In the three cases where the Model Parliament was held on campus, the ornate Chair used by the President at Convocation became the Speaker’s chair. Moving away from municipal politicians, Nickel Belt M.P.P. and former Deputy Ontario Premier, Floyd Laughren, served as Speaker in 1997, a year that also saw the Model Parliament reduced to a one-day affair, followed by a banquet at which awards were presented. In 1995, a provincial Liberal government was headed by Premier Martin Croteau; in 1996, it was a federal Liberal government under Prime Minister Chris Logan; and in 1997, a provincial PC government led by Premier Takis Zervas.
Although he had since graduated from the Department of Political Science, Dan Charbonneau continued to play an active part in all of the above Model Parliaments, leaving the immediate organizational duties to the Laurentian University Political Science Association under Rand’s general guidance. Later in 1997, having seen the Queen’s University Model Parliament on the CPAC channel, Dan suggested that the 1998 event be held in the actual House of Commons chamber. In his usual persuasive way, he prevailed over some doubters, and with the support of Sudbury M.P., the late Hon. Diane Marleau, the Speaker of the House granted Laurentian permission to do so. Working for Ray Bonin, M.P. (Nickel Belt), Dan also provided a great deal of logistical support in organizing the Model Parliament at such a distance.
Being held in the House of Commons chamber and attracting nearly 100 participants, the 1998 Model Parliament was the biggest and best yet, with a Liberal government headed by Neil McGraw. The staff of the House of Commons, especially Joanne Cartwright, was extremely helpful in planning the event as well as in providing pages, microphone operators, simultaneous interpretation, and half-day CPAC coverage. The event was replayed many times on the parliamentary channel over the subsequent months! Given that Laurentian is an officially bilingual university, it was a great step forward for the Model Parliament to be able to function on a fully bilingual basis with simultaneous interpretation. Afterwards, the banquet was held in a nearby ornate Commons committee room.
Maintaining the tradition of alternating between a federal and a provincial model parliament, the 1999 event was held at Queen’s Park in Toronto, with a provincial PC government under Premier Andrew Van Oosten, and University of Toronto professor Graham White as Speaker.
Being held in the House of Commons again, the 2000 Model Parliament was basically similar to that of 1998, with a Liberal minority government led by Prime Minister James Sinclair and Neil McGraw presiding as Speaker. Although the House of Commons staff was as helpful as before, budget cuts meant that there was no CPAC coverage. The 2001 Model Parliament was another huge success, except that it had to be postponed from its scheduled January date because of the early recall of Parliament after the premature 2000 election. Instead, it was in March, with a woman Prime Minister for the first time, Liberal leader Céline Henry. Another new twist was to have sign translators for the hearing-impaired participant. The 2002 Model Parliament followed the same format as in 2001, with Ali Yassine functioning as Liberal Prime Minister. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event, a special Alumni Model Parliament was held the day after the current students held theirs, with over 50 alumni participants. Once again, Neil McGraw assumed the mantle of Liberal Prime minister.
The 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 Model Parliaments were also held in the House of Commons chamber, headed by Yves Chenier (first Aboriginal PM), Chas Anselmo, Martin Soulière, Nathan Chevrier, and Sébastien Perth respectively. By this time, students from Laurentian’s satellite campus in Barrie began to participate, complicating the organizational aspects of the event, but enriching the overall production. For several years, John Peters provided faculty support after Rand moved to Ottawa. To celebrate the 15th anniversary, a second Alumni Model Parliament was held the day after the current students’ model parliament in 2007, with Christopher Rodgers as Liberal Prime Minister. The regular Model Parliament carried on in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, with four Conservative Prime Ministers, Kayleigh Heathcote, Jason Kontak, Samantha Pitzel, and Blythe Gerrie. Ever since he became LU President in 2009, Dominic Giroux has lent enthusiastic support, including personal attendance at every one.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, a third Alumni Model Parliament was held in January 2012. But that time we tried a new format, with the current students in the House of Commons and the Alumni Parliamentarians simultaneously in the Senate. It required a great deal of organizational effort, primarily provided by LUPSA President Zachary Courtemanche, along with Dan Charbonneau, Nathan Chevrier, Rand, Senator Marie Poulin, and the President’s office. As far as we know, 2012 was the first time in Canadian history that a university has operated such a bicameral model parliament. Moreover, Laurentian Chancellor Aline Chrétien performed the functions of Governor General. James Sylvestre was the Conservative Prime Minister, while Kayleigh Heathcote was the Government Leader in the Senate. Charles Wilson functioned spectacularly as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and the banquet was held in the Government Conference Centre (soon to be the temporary Senate). Jean Chrétien entertained the crowd with stories about the “Shawinigan handshake.”
The next year, Mark Mancini took the reins of LUPSA, and introduced a number of innovations, including holding the banquet in the ballroom of the Chateau Laurier. In 2013, Samantha Bokma served as NDP Prime Minister, opposed by Justin Binkley as the leader of the Conservative official opposition. Other party leaders were Christopher Jones (Liberal), Samantha Puchala (BQ), Casey Lalonde (Green), and Carolyn Leblanc (FPNP). Mark, himself, became the Conservative PM in 2014, with Bryan Cayouette leading the NDP official opposition. Other party leaders were Chantelle Chaput (Liberal), Patrick Wright (BQ), Michelle Anne Sowinski (Green), and Laurel Lynn Roberts (FPNP). The 2015 model parliament was headed by Prime Minister Casey Lalonde (Conservative), while the leader of the official opposition was Ashley Shannahan (Liberal). Other party leaders were Jordan Babando (Green), Jessica Lemelin (FPNP), Chrissy Trudel (NDP), and Kevin Sévérance (BQ). By this time, Nadia Verrelli had arrived in the department to provide faculty support, along with Aurélie and others, to say nothing of the annual contributions of Julie Ouellette. In 2016, the Model Parliament had another NDP government, headed by Prime Minister Anthony Costello. The other party leaders were Jake Raby (Green), James Westman (Conservative), Jeremy Ross (Liberal), Valerie Shawinimash (FPNP), with Alex Tétreault adding passionate BQ participation.
Then we moved on to 2017, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the LU Model Parliament, with the inclusion of a simultaneous Alumni Model Parliament in the Senate. LUPSA President Jordon Williams has been the key organizer on the Commons side, along with Nathan Chevrier on the Senate side, supported by the usual people acknowledged above. Perhaps above all, Neil McGraw should be singled out for his spectacular contribution as Speaker, year after year. We are also honouring Tom Maki for his generous annual financial contributions that reflect his passionate belief in the value of the project. This year, the Model Parliament veers away from reality to some extent with an FPNP (now IPNP) government headed by Prime Minister Jessica Lemelin. Along with a Liberal official opposition under Nour Kasir, and the NDP, Green and Bloc, it includes the Communist Party and goes back in time to include a Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance. In an attempt to replicate the current (confused) state of the Canadian Senate, the Alumni Model Parliament is headed by Zachary Courtemanche as Government Representative in that chamber, herding the largest group of “unaffiliated” members. Laurentian Chancellor Steve Paikin serves as Governor General again, this time reading the Throne Speech in the Senate.