Waterloo hosts annual federal-provincial simulation high school conference

WATERLOO - High school students in Waterloo Region will participate in Canada's only federal-provincial government conference simulation at the University of Waterloo next Monday (Dec. 7) and Tuesday (Dec. 8).

For the first time, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is sending a video greeting to the 385 students from 17 regional schools taking part in the annual event.

"The conference, which is popularly known as Fed-Prov, is an excellent opportunity for students to become interested and engaged in politics while in high school," said John Jaworsky, professor of political science at Waterloo. "This federal-provincial government simulation is a unique event in Canada."

The simulation, organized by Waterloo's political science department and the regional history heads association, has been held at the university for more than 30 years.

The role of Canada's prime minister will be handled by Steacy McIlwham, of Sir John A. Macdonald secondary school. Other students from Sir John A. Macdonald will serve as federal ministers. Students from other schools in the region will have responsibilities to chair meetings of provincial and territorial ministers.

Besides first ministers meetings, ministerial delegations participate in committees dealing with finance, justice, health, the environment, agriculture and economic affairs, immigration and aboriginal affairs. A number of special interest groups will be represented this year, including Greenpeace and First Nations.

Two schools - Galt collegiate institute and Cameron Heights collegiate institute - will produce newspapers during the conference to provide information and promote debate over the two days. One of the schools will be the recipient of the Waterloo Region Record's federal-provincial conference press award.

The John Boulden Award, named after one of the founders of the simulation, will be presented to one of the student first ministers based on a vote by all participants. The Derksen Award will be awarded for best website.
Working sessions take place in several rooms in the Arts Lecture Hall, J. G. Hagey Hall of the Humanities and the Modern Languages building on Monday and Tuesday. The concluding plenary session will be held in the Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages building, on Tuesday, from 1:45 to 3 p.m.