Queen’s Model Parliament Marks 70th Anniversary with Dignitaries

Published on: 2017/01/12 - in Featured News

Canada’s oldest and largest model parliament marks its 70th anniversary as over 300 Queen’s University students spend three days in Ottawa.

Between Wednesday, January 11 and Friday, January 13, undergraduate students from a variety of faculties will sit as Members of Parliament to debate a variety of bills.

A total of 338 student MPs will be in attendance along with 10 student journalists in the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

As has become tradition, a number of distinguished guests will join the students to take on the role of Speaker of the House of Commons.

For the 2017 conference, the Speaker position will be held by British High Commissioner, Howard Drake; former MP and Ontario’s premier, Bob Rae; Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Gerald Butts; Senator James Cowan; and Rosemary Barton, host of CBC Television’s Power&Politics.

Also filling in as Speaker for the Model Parliament is Peter Milliken, the former (and longest serving) Speaker of the House of Commons while a Member of Parliament for Kingston and the islands.

In 2011, Peter Milliken accompanied Canadian comedian and political satirist, Rick Mercer, when he filmed a segment for his popular CBC show “Rick Mercer Report”. (below)

Mercer appeared at the Model parliament that year after Queen’s students posted a video – similar to Mercer’s popular rant segments on his show – calling on Mercer to attend.


[Watch on Youtube]


Photo (cropped): Tsai Project (cc)