2024 UBC model parliament

Model Parliament is a conference run by students for students through the Political Science Students' Association at the University of British Columbia. The 2024 Conference will be our 8th Model Parliament held at UBC. With the prior cancellations of the conference in the last two years, we hope that you will join us in continuing this new tradition to restore vitality to politics and make Canadian politics accessible to youth. This conference is designed to provide a snapshot of the Canadian Parliamentary experience and is perfect for beginners and political junkies alike. Everyone is encouraged to register regardless of academic background or past experience.

Participants will serve as Delegates and be divided into Canada's major political parties according to current Party representation (as of March 2024). You will represent real Members of Parliament and will duke it out just as though you were in the real House of Commons.

Our goal is to acquaint you with the functional aspects of the Canadian government, cultivate an immersive experience wherein you engage in meaningful debate over public policy, engage with research, and help create friendships between like-minded individuals. As this conference is open to all faculties, delegates will have the opportunity to connect with people of diverse backgrounds with similar interests.

This year's theme for the conference is “Canadian Federal Environmental Policy.” We will be exploring the unique relationship between the Canadian Federal Government, the Provinces, Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, and Canada’s unique environmental landscape. The Canadian government is faced with the difficult task of establishing and maintaining a delicate balance between the dominance of resource-based industries and Canada’s environmental responsibilities, values, and obligations. The conference will also have a panel with esteemed and distinguished guests to give a multitude of different perspectives on Canada’s unique relationship and responsibilities to the environment. Likewise, we will have written and video greetings alongside talks from different MPs which will allow students to make new connections and give them the opportunity to ask questions.

More information can be requested from the Model Parliament Co-Chairs Abedah & Isha at ubcmodelparliament@gmail.com