Here are two activities to keep the conversation going in your classroom in the weeks after the federal election. They are designed to help your students reflect on the importance of elections in our democracy and how elections connect to Parliament.
From candidate to member of Parliament
Explain that, during the election, candidates compete to win and become the member of Parliament (MP) for their riding. Once a candidate wins, they represent everyone in the riding—not just those who voted for them. While they may represent a political party, they must consider the needs of all the citizens in their riding. Some MPs are appointed by the Prime Minister as members of Cabinet. Cabinet members have a dual role: to be a minister and to be the MP for their riding.
As citizens, it is our responsibility to communicate our needs to our MP, whether they are part of the government or the opposition, so that they can bring our concerns forward to Parliament.
Lead your students through the following steps to create a parliamentary wish list.
- Ask your students what federal issues they care about most. Have them individually list their top federal issues (three to five). To get them started, you may wish to review some of the issues discussed both in your region and nationally during the election.
- Have students work together in small groups and make a list of the federal issues (three to five) that they would like Parliament to prioritize for new legislation.
- Invite the small groups to share their ideas with the class. Write all their ideas on the board or chart paper.
- Create a parliamentary wish list for the entire class. Work together as a class to figure out the top issues.
- Get students to identify which items on the wish list will have a direct impact on your school’s riding and which will affect the whole country and the world.
- Then ask students which issues are most important to their community.
- Have students write an email or letter to their new MP to share the class’s parliamentary wish list. The class could write one email as a group addressing their top concerns, or small groups could take responsibility for writing emails on individual items.
Note: If your students are at the secondary level, you could point out that they will likely be able to vote in the next election.
Ask a member of Parliament
Invite your new MP to speak to your class, either virtually or in person.
- Have students ask them questions about the transition from the election campaign to Parliament, such as: Do you know where you will live in Ottawa? How often do you expect to be in our riding? Are you nervous about your new role? How will you work with members of the other parties?
- Encourage students to come up with more questions based on the class’s parliamentary wish list.
If your MP is not available to speak to your class, students could consider and discuss how the MP’s life might change as their role evolves from candidate to member of Parliament.