It seems that McGill University continues to be an agent of change in Canadian politics and the NDP student club on campus is pumping out the prospective candidates.
It all started more than 40 years ago when a 21-year-old Jack Layton graduated with a BA from McGill and went on to become the national NDP leader and then leader of the opposition. Deputy leader Thomas Mulcair also graduated from that school, as a lawyer in 1977.
And now, in 2011, a group of barely twentysomethings is carrying the orange banner all the way to the House of Commons. Some of them are barely old enough to vote themselves.
In the tradition of the Chicago Seven and the Toronto 18, the modern press has nicknamed this group of rookie legislators the McGill Four. There are actually five of them but I guess the one guy who has already graduated is overqualified for this title.
Jack Layton is overjoyed by his new status in the House of Commons. His record number of seats, thanks to the voters in Quebec, caught many people by surprise. This result was unexpected and unprepared for, especially by the young McGill candidates themselves.
Winning candidate Lauren Liu, a second-year history and cultural studies student, didn’t expect to win and had no intention of going to Parliament. Now that she has a seat in the house she’ll have to make the best of it. The hefty salary should help with the transition.
When journalists tried to contact political science student Charmaine Borg for a comment they discovered that she does not own a cell phone. That may soon change. Prepare to surrender your privacy Charmaine.
For the most part these rookie MPs are steered away from enquiring journalists but young Matthew Dubé, co-president of the McGill NDP, was asked about his youth and inexperience.
Here’s what he said. “The whole point of democracy is to be representative. People don’t want to elect 308 lawyers.” I can’t argue with that.
Mylène Freeman, the other co-president, rounds out the McGill 4. Each of these students defeated an incumbent Bloc MP to win their seat. Even though Jack wasn’t expecting these victories I hope he appreciates this new opportunity.
Here is a chance for all political leaders to inject some vitality and enthusiasm into the Canadian political process. At some point during the recent campaign all parties tried to lure the youth vote.
Well, here they are. What are you going to do with them?
Mr. Layton is wearing a big grin these days but does he really know how to relate to his new, young and inexperienced MPs? He is also a McGill alumnus but that’s where the similarity ends.
Like many of his parliamentary colleagues of all stripes, he is more representative of aging baby boomers than young Canadians. The McGill Four are not his natural constituency.
The median age of Canadians is 39.4 years. In the House of Commons it’s 55.5. There is only a handful under 40.
The single most common profession is lawyer. Undergraduate students are something new. What self-respecting young person would hang out with these, mostly rich, white dudes anyway?
Talk about culture shock. Not long ago these students were thinking about final exams, getting a summer job and hanging out with their buds. Now they have to hire a staff for their new office, put on a business suit, throw their iPod in the desk drawer and help run the country for the next four years.
On the other hand, a starting salary of $153,731 should help pay off those student loans quite nicely.
However, these young people could be in for a rude awakening. It will be difficult to function in an atmosphere lacking in honesty and integrity. They will have to keep their opinions to themselves and not speak unless spoken to. It will be just like moving back in with mom and dad.
One question remains to be answered. Will Papa Layton and the NDP caucus (including the Thunder Bay Two) have the political courage to use these eager, green minions to make positive changes to a dysfunctional Parliament?
Or, as is so often the case, will they be ridiculed, lectured and harassed until they either toe the party line or return to their studies? Even Smiling Jack can’t protect them from the contempt of Stephen Harper and his condescending caucus.
This isn’t McGill any more. This is the school of hard knocks.
It all started more than 40 years ago when a 21-year-old Jack Layton graduated with a BA from McGill and went on to become the national NDP leader and then leader of the opposition. Deputy leader Thomas Mulcair also graduated from that school, as a lawyer in 1977.
And now, in 2011, a group of barely twentysomethings is carrying the orange banner all the way to the House of Commons. Some of them are barely old enough to vote themselves.
In the tradition of the Chicago Seven and the Toronto 18, the modern press has nicknamed this group of rookie legislators the McGill Four. There are actually five of them but I guess the one guy who has already graduated is overqualified for this title.
Jack Layton is overjoyed by his new status in the House of Commons. His record number of seats, thanks to the voters in Quebec, caught many people by surprise. This result was unexpected and unprepared for, especially by the young McGill candidates themselves.
Winning candidate Lauren Liu, a second-year history and cultural studies student, didn’t expect to win and had no intention of going to Parliament. Now that she has a seat in the house she’ll have to make the best of it. The hefty salary should help with the transition.
When journalists tried to contact political science student Charmaine Borg for a comment they discovered that she does not own a cell phone. That may soon change. Prepare to surrender your privacy Charmaine.
For the most part these rookie MPs are steered away from enquiring journalists but young Matthew Dubé, co-president of the McGill NDP, was asked about his youth and inexperience.
Here’s what he said. “The whole point of democracy is to be representative. People don’t want to elect 308 lawyers.” I can’t argue with that.
Mylène Freeman, the other co-president, rounds out the McGill 4. Each of these students defeated an incumbent Bloc MP to win their seat. Even though Jack wasn’t expecting these victories I hope he appreciates this new opportunity.
Here is a chance for all political leaders to inject some vitality and enthusiasm into the Canadian political process. At some point during the recent campaign all parties tried to lure the youth vote.
Well, here they are. What are you going to do with them?
Mr. Layton is wearing a big grin these days but does he really know how to relate to his new, young and inexperienced MPs? He is also a McGill alumnus but that’s where the similarity ends.
Like many of his parliamentary colleagues of all stripes, he is more representative of aging baby boomers than young Canadians. The McGill Four are not his natural constituency.
The median age of Canadians is 39.4 years. In the House of Commons it’s 55.5. There is only a handful under 40.
The single most common profession is lawyer. Undergraduate students are something new. What self-respecting young person would hang out with these, mostly rich, white dudes anyway?
Talk about culture shock. Not long ago these students were thinking about final exams, getting a summer job and hanging out with their buds. Now they have to hire a staff for their new office, put on a business suit, throw their iPod in the desk drawer and help run the country for the next four years.
On the other hand, a starting salary of $153,731 should help pay off those student loans quite nicely.
However, these young people could be in for a rude awakening. It will be difficult to function in an atmosphere lacking in honesty and integrity. They will have to keep their opinions to themselves and not speak unless spoken to. It will be just like moving back in with mom and dad.
One question remains to be answered. Will Papa Layton and the NDP caucus (including the Thunder Bay Two) have the political courage to use these eager, green minions to make positive changes to a dysfunctional Parliament?
Or, as is so often the case, will they be ridiculed, lectured and harassed until they either toe the party line or return to their studies? Even Smiling Jack can’t protect them from the contempt of Stephen Harper and his condescending caucus.
This isn’t McGill any more. This is the school of hard knocks.
