Student MLAs Deliberate Tax Incentives for Voters

NOTE: Information on Model Legislature 2007 is available at the end of this release.

High school students will be debating mock bills offering tax incentives for voting and raising the minimum age at which a student may leave school, as part of Model Legislature 2007, May 25-27.

The student MLAs, representing each of Nova Scotia's 52 constituencies, will table, debate, and vote on the bills at Province House.

The event, organized by the Department of Education, begins today, May 25, and continues until Sunday, May 27. The students will divide into caucuses and debate the two mock bills on the floor of the House of Assembly on Saturday, May 26, and Sunday, May 27.

"Model Legislature is a hands-on experience of how democracy works in Nova Scotia. It makes learning about the political process interactive and fun," said Education Minister Karen Casey. "Students will experience the challenges and opportunities faced by the men and women who work as their elected representatives."

Ms. Casey will meet the student MLAs and speak with them about why it is important for young Nova Scotians to get involved in public affairs.

As part of the weekend's events, students will attend a workshop on the role of the media. They will also organize their own news conferences addressing the mock bills. The students will get public speaking and debating tips from speaking coach Josh Judah before debating the bills and preparing for news conferences.

The first model legislature was held in 2003.

NOTE: Model Legislature 2007 begins today, May 25, with an opening banquet. Education Minister Karen Casey will be guest speaker at the event, which begins at 6 p.m. in the Cameron Dining Hall, Howe Hall, Dalhousie University, Halifax.

On Saturday, May 26, and Sunday, May 27, students will attend workshops and participate in mock sittings of the legislature and mock news conferences. All sessions are open to the media.

The mock sittings will be held Saturday, May 26, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Province House, 1726 Hollis St., Halifax. The mock news conferences will begin Saturday at 9:45 a.m. in the foyer of Province House.

Students and organizers will be available for photographs and interviews.