McMaster student given a voice to Trudeau youth council
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that our generation are the leaders of tomorrow. It was not until last week, when The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau introduced to Canada the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, that I realized how incredibly misleading that statement is.
Myself and fourteen youths from across the nation are tasked with engaging the Prime Minister and other government officials with our unfiltered and non-partisan advice. We critique current policies and we recommend new ones. You see, youths do not need to be given a voice: we each have one. What we need is to be empowered to tell our stories, not to have our stories appropriated by others. The Youth Council provides us with the platform from which young people’s voices can resonate.
Last week in Ottawa, the members of the Council met for the first time. In our short but productive meeting with Mr. Trudeau, it was obvious to me that he is genuinely passionate about youths. He stressed the importance that we remain non-partisan, and that we do not hesitate to inform him of our opinions, whether he might like it or not.
While speaking with the Prime minister was an amazing experience, meeting the other Council members was simply incredible. My colleagues are the most diverse group of youths I have ever met. We each come from different regions, backgrounds, and cultures. In our discussions, it becomes clear that this diversity is one of our biggest strengths. However, there is one thing that unites us all: our engagement in our communities and our desire to improve society. Together, we discussed various issues, such as climate change, with each other and with the respective ministers. These discussions are the beginning of a reality in which youths help shape the society we live in today.
The highlight of the conference was when the PM introduced us to the world at the One Young World Summit. We stood on a stage alongside Mr. Trudeau, the Former President of Ireland, the Former Secretary General of the UN, and numerous other world leaders. Standing there amongst these awe-inspiring individuals made me realize how wrong I was to think that we will only matter when we are older. We are not only the leaders of tomorrow; we are the leaders of today.
Are you passionate about an issue in your community? Do you have a desire to improve our society? If so, please let me know your thoughts! I promise to do my best to make your voice resonate in our government. You are welcome to reach me at zhouc16@mcmaster.ca. Remember, your voice matters. I look forward to hearing from you!
