City Clerk Dianne Gould-Brown, Mayor Mike Bradley and CAO Margaret Misek-Evans BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie IrwinCity Clerk Dianne Gould-Brown, Mayor Mike Bradley and CAO Margaret Misek-Evans BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin
Sarnia

Exploring youth position on council

Sarnia City Councillor Brian White wants to "capture the youth voice."

He has asked staff to report back to council with a recommended approach to add a youth position to a selection of city committees and council.

"There is a need and desire for this perspective in all areas of governance," said White. "Young people have a different outlook on the world in which they live, they bring a different energy and new ways of considering important issues."

White said with mandatory volunteer hours at the high school level and a push for civics education, the city has an opportunity to engage teens.

He suggests 14 to 18-year-olds could serve during the next term as a pilot program, which could then be reviewed before the 2022 election.

White says statistics show that when people are engaged in politics at a younger age, they are more likely to vote and feel included in the community.

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