Young people from across the Northwest Territories got a taste of political life during Youth Parliament 2019.

The week-long program is an opportunity for high school students to walk in the shoes of the elected officials who represent them and learn about the daily workings of the legislative assembly.

During a mock session on Thursday, the students made membersSA国际影视传媒� statements about issues that mattered to them, from food security and affordability to the lack of after-school activities for youth in Fort Resolution.

In some ways, the Youth Legislative Assembly was the opposite of the regular assembly SA国际影视传媒� not only were the members younger but also noticeably more female. Out of the 18 youth members, only three were male, in contrast to the regular assembly which has just two women out of 19 members.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was just the applications that came in,SA国际影视传媒� explained Charlotte Digness, media and communications co-ordinator at the legislative assembly. SA国际影视传媒淚t was just very female-heavy.SA国际影视传媒�

Stella Smyslo, a Grade 9 student at Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, was the youth MLA for Kam Lake for the day. She put forward a motion for more mental health supports in high schools in the Northwest Territories and an online counselling option for teens who donSA国际影视传媒檛 feel comfortable seeking help in person.

After a lengthy debate the motion passed 9-8 with one abstention.

Smyslo didnSA国际影视传媒檛 expect the motion would be as contested as it was.

SA国际影视传媒淚 thought it would be a really easy debate,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Grade 10 student Crystal Kisakye was the youth MLA for Hay River South, and a member of cabinet, which unanimously voted against the motion.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen they brought it up everyone was like yeah this is a great thing, no oneSA国际影视传媒檚 going to disagree,SA国际影视传媒� said Kisakye. SA国际影视传媒淏ut then in cabinet, we were talking more about it and reading exactly what it was saying and we said some of these things donSA国际影视传媒檛 add up.SA国际影视传媒�

Members of the youth cabinet cited concerns about the cost of providing counsellors to all schools in the territory, rather than just those in need.

SA国际影视传媒淚t said there would be counsellors in all high schools and right now Yellowknife, for example, has enough right now,SA国际影视传媒� said Kisakye. SA国际影视传媒淎nd in smaller communities, they have to wait a year, like one of the girls said there.SA国际影视传媒�

The youth cabinet decided to vote against the motion.

SA国际影视传媒淲e knew that no one was going to see it coming because itSA国际影视传媒檚 mental health and we all know that itSA国际影视传媒檚 important but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 just some things that canSA国际影视传媒檛 work with that motion,SA国际影视传媒� Kisakye explained.

SA国际影视传媒淲e did agree that it was an important concept but some of the ways they were going to handle it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 what was best for the territory,SA国际影视传媒� said Cassidy Lennie-Ipana, youth MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake and a Grade 10 student at East Three Secondary School.

SA国际影视传媒淚 did believe thereSA国际影视传媒檚 some communities that already have the resources,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚f they maybe rephrased the motion, I would have been in favour of it.SA国际影视传媒�

She did support private online counselling for patients.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome mental health cases you donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to go outside, you donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to see anyone so having that online opportunity is where youSA国际影视传媒檙e at home, where youSA国际影视传媒檙e comfortable,SA国际影视传媒� said Lennie-Ipana.

After the close vote, the youth said they sympathize with adult politicians who have to make unpopular decisions.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of realities to situations that I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 really consider before joining this program,SA国际影视传媒� said Stella. SA国际影视传媒淟ike listening to all the statements and everything, funding is an issue for like, everything. And thereSA国际影视传媒檚 all these incredible causes but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 just not enough money to do it all.SA国际影视传媒�

Despite their disagreements, the youth MLAs said they enjoyed the spirited debate, said Kisakye.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd if we all thought the same thing, if we all voted the exact same way on everything I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know how well that would work out," she said. "We want to hear everybodySA国际影视传媒檚 opinion. If I suggest an idea, I want someone to tell me the little things that could be wrong with that, and we could work to make it better.SA国际影视传媒�