Youth Welcoms MPs Back to Work With Demand for a Sustainable Future

Jun 2, 2011

Youth Welcoms MPs Back to Work With Demand for a Sustainable Future

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Ottawa – At noon today Canadian youth are welcoming Canada’s politicians back to work by literally drawing a line in the sand on Parliament Hill. One side of the line will depict the vision of young Canadians for a clean, responsible future, as opposed to our current unsustainable path. Every Member of Parliament has been personally invited to join youth across this symbolic line as a gesture of a commitment to building a clean, just and sustainable future. 


“We know that youth across this country believe in, and are committed to building a just, sustainable future, but we’re still not sure about our Members of Parliament.” say Cameron Fenton, National Director with the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition.


To demonstrate their commitment, politicians have been asked to sign onto the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition’s (CYCC) recently released “Our Demands” statement. Launched during the 2011 election campaign as a platform for youth, by youth, this document outlines a path towards preserving the planet for youth today and in the future. The demands emphasize the importance of recognizing young people's "right to a future" and stress the inclusion of youth in government decision-making. 



 â€¨â€¨“As the young people of this country, we have to take the initiative to let our government know that we are committed to making changes from the bottom up,” explains Amanda Charles, a volunteer coordinator with the CYCC. “We need to stand up to our government and help them understand our needs.”


Our Demands were developed through a cross-country consultation process distilling the five core principals that represent youth’s core values and hopes for the future. These include the need for justice across generational, social and economic divides. To that end, the youth coalition recognizes the urgency of the climate crisis and the importance of a just green economic transition.

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CONTACT |Emilie Novaczek 
Media Coordinator, CYCC
 emilie@ourclimate.ca



FOR COMMENT | Cameron Fenton 
National Director, CYCC 
director@ourclimate.ca 
514-467-6413

The Canadian Youth Climate Coalition is a united front of youth from across Canada tackling the biggest challenge of our generation, the climate crisis. Acting locally, provincially, federally, and internationally, we combine our forces to educate and empower youth. We organize campaigns and actions to create the change we need to see in the world. Learn more at ourclimate.ca.