A children’s municipal council

At the request of a group of elementary-school students, Québec City created the Conseil municipal des enfants (Children’s Municipal Council). This forum will allow young participants to familiarize themselves with municipal life, while fostering council member awareness about the needs of young people.

The First Conseil municipal des enfants will be in session in June 2005. It will bring together students of the second cycle of the elementary level from Québec City schools having already submitted their candidacy. These young people will represent their school and their ward when they debate their concerns. “Two or three times a year, they will be invited to meet, in their borough, with municipal councillors and public servants. Everyone will be able to exchange views and decide on actions that should be taken to improve the quality of life in their community.”

It is interesting to note that the schools that proposed students had to make sure that they were chosen democratically.

What a great initiative!

www.ville.quebec.qc.ca/fr/organisation/conseil_municipal_enfants.shtml (in French only)