Students take over the House

This is a recent article of Maclean's Magazine. (You will have to scroll down until after the story about Borys W.'s wedding.)

Tell me... what exactly is this?

I have a number of complaints with this article. So let's take it from the top.

1) Queen's University takes their model parliament more seriously than Laurentian University's.
This statement is factually untrue. Laurentian University after only 15 years of model parliament, has always taken it seriously -- a fact that can be (and has been) echoed by House of Commons employees. Moreoever, Laurentian University's model parliamentarians were not allowed juice into the House, merely in the anti-chambers; I'm a sure a practice condoned by Queen's as well.

2) The Queen's First Aid Team
Why does a magazine known for writing on the subject of politic spend most of an article on model parliament discussing the humour of a first aid team at model parliament? And again, how does this imply a greater degree of seriousness?

3) Mockery of the Laurentian NDP
The small paragraph given to the Laurentian NDP mocks the concept of legalization of sexual trade -- a bill they chose not to do anyway. It also chooses to ignore an interview with the actual leader of the NDP.

4) Finally, and I'm sure even not Liberals can agree the most disturbing -- NO MENTION OF LIBERALS
Now, I assure you this is not just myself getting angry as the Leader of the Liberal Party at Laurentian's model parliament. But someone, please tell me how can anyone write an article on model parliaments without mentioning Liberal Party participation once. The only references were that of a student being employed by Ray Bonin and a professor supporting Bob Rae. Even the paragraph referencing the alumni model parliament does not mention the leader of the Liberal government that day. Does this make sense to anyone?


I ask these questions in hope that someone can give me some sort of response. Perhaps a participant of Queen's model parliament? Perhaps a regular reader of Maclean's? Anybody at all?

And finally, a special mention does go out to two people who were not mentioned in this article and very much should have been -- Laurentian University Political Science Association president Kevin Roche and NDP Leader Tess Curie; both of whom put a lot of personal time into this project.