New Youth Initiative in Eastern and Northern Ontario

The Ontario government is partnering with AFMO to ensure that Francophone youth has the opportunity to get involved in municipal politics and provide input on local issues of concern.

As part of its provincial Accent on Youth strategy, the Ontario government is supporting a new youth initiative designed to raise awareness amongst young Francophones about the issues encountered by municipalities and the way city councillors resolve them. This program aims at encouraging the active participation and future involvement of young people at the municipal level.

A steering committee, composed of representatives of municipalities, local schools, the community and the Ontario government, will provide advice to develop activities to engage students at the participating schools.

The pilot project will involve the participation of three municipalities, Russell and Casselman in Eastern Ontario and Kapuskasing in Northern Ontario. These municipalities will be partnered with local High schools which are École secondaire catholique Embrun in Russell, École secondaire publique La Seigneurie in Casselman as well as École secondaire catholique Cité des Jeunes and École secondaire publique Écho du Nord in Kapuskasing .

46.4 per cent of the population in Russell is Francophone, 68.9 per cent in Kapuskasing and 84.6 per cent in Casselman.

QUOTES
“It is essential that our youth be engaged socially and politically in their Francophone communities in order to ensure they remain vibrant and dynamic. Our young people will soon be in charge of shaping Franco-Ontarian society and this initiative will give them the tools to carry this mission forward. ”
- Madeleine Meilleur, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.

“Municipalities are a prime place for young people to get involved if they want to make a real difference in their communities. Our program will allow them to follow city councillors in their activities, observe decision-making processes at the municipal level and brainstorm ideas to improve their municipalities.”
- Lorraine Dicaire, President of Ontario Association of Francophone Municipalities (AFMO).