CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - The Rotary Clubs of P.E.I. will host the 31st annual Rotary Youth Parliament on Friday and Saturday in Charlottetown.
The parliament will take place in the legislative assembly at the George Coles Building.
Thirty-six students representing high schools from across the Island will take part in the two-day event.
Students will be acting in the role of Island legislators to debate bills and resolutions on current topics of interest on P.E.I. Susanna Hamilton, representing Grace Christian School, will be acting as premier, while Sam Bailey, also representing Grace Christian School will be acting as the leader of the opposition. Other students from across the Island, in addition to rotary exchange students will be acting in the roles of cabinet ministers.
Youth parliament will start on Friday 1:45 p.m. The speech from the throne will be delivered by Lt.-Gov. Antoinette Perry. Debating will be conducted under the direction of the Buck Watts, speaker of the legislative assembly, and will continue throughout the day until 8:30 p.m., resuming again on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Some of the topics up for debate are cannabis management, youth elections, food security, health specialist, mental health improvements and affordable housing.
High schools participating include Bluefield, Kensington, Kinkora, Morell, Charlottetown Rural, Westisle, Montague, Three Oaks, Grace Baptist, François-Buote and Colonel Gray.