Late push helps Salvation Army sees late surge in donations Page A11
OPINION: Is liquid natural gas next flashpoint? /A6 ARTS: Filmmaker seeks deal for streets story /A8 SPORTS: Jr. B players rivals on ice, coworkers off /A12
VICTORIANEWS VICTORIA Wednesday, January 2, 2013
B.C. youth take over legislature
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Going green in ’13
Teens and young adults taste life in the political trenches Daniel Palmer News staff
A packed B.C. Legislature has been teeming with debate over controversial bills, including the reinstitution of the death penalty and a ban on aggressive dog breeds. But it wasn’t MLAs filling the seats of the legislature. For five days, 95 people aged 16 to 21 descended on Victoria for the 84th annual B.C. Youth Parliament, a model organization that serves as a political training ground for engaged students. “We debate legislation, present legislation to the members that is important to our organization. It frames the (activities of our) organization throughout the year,” said Sarah O’Connor, Premier of BCYP. Originally from Lytton, O’Connor now lives in Victoria and works as a legislative assistant. She credits her early years with the youth parliament as a catalyst for her enthusiasm for politics. “It’s an amazing experience. You learn so much, you gain so much real knowledge and confidence,” she said, standing in the lobby of the legislature before session. The parliament runs like any other, as legislation is tabled, debated and passed. Members are free to propose amendments, and they hone their public speaking skills quickly in a room full of non-partisan peers. O’Connor sympathized with many of the students who were participating for the first time this year. “I remember it being terrifying, so overwhelming,” she said. “You’re in the chambers, there are people who look and are a lot older than you, who are more confident than you, and you’re sitting in the back just trembling. But it’s an amazing experience.” PLEASE SEE: Youth engaged, Page A4
LL O R EN For NOWN. 14 JA
Don Denton/News staff
The idea has been in the works for more than a year, but in February, Victoria will replace one of its weekly garbage pickups with a green-bin compost pickup. City estimates peg the compostable amount of what people put in their garbage at about 30 per cent.
13 STORIES TO WATCH THIS YEAR
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Don Descoteau Editor
ucky ’13? Maybe for some, but for the most part, Victoria and Esquimalt residents are expecting a steady-asshe-goes 2013. The forecast calls for flat economic growth, but there are always things to be optimistic about in our communities. Take the growth in the shipbuilding and marine repair business expected at Victoria Shipyards in Esquimalt, for example. Or the fact that in the City of Victoria residents who haven’t done backyard composting will be
able to recycle their organics without much effort. Movement toward further improvement of the Victoria Police Department’s relationship with Esquimalt could also find a spot on the positive side of the ledger. Beginning on Page A3, readers can find our checklist of 13 of the top stories we expect to cover over the next 12 months. You might want to tuck away this issue of the News and compare it to what really happened, come December.
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