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The Times Advocate, 2006-11-29, Page 31Wednesday, November 29, 2006 TIMES -ADVOCATE 31 Huron -Bruce student returns from Student's Assembly By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF ZURICH — A 16 -year-old resident of Zurich with an appreciation for politics has just returned from a five-day Student's Assembly on Electoral Reform. Only 103 youths from across Ontario were chosen, one from each province and Lauren Haberer, a Grade 11 student at South Huron District High School earned the opportunity to participate, analyz- ing the current state of the electoral system, explor- ing alternatives and improvements. Haberer who became fond of politics in Grade 8, taking part in the Grade 8 Page Program at Queen's Park where she assisted Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell, was excited to express her ideas and con- cerns at the first Student's Assembly Electoral Reform conference. "Being a member of the Student's Assembly was a wonderful experience," says Haberer. "It felt so cool being in a room of 103 teenagers who were passionate and determined for change. It was amazing to see first hand the knowledge that we possess and the outcome that can result," she adds. The conference began at the University of Toronto and continued at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville. The students between the ages 14 and 18 first gathered as a group and then split up into groups of 10. "Because I am from Huron County, a very uniform community as far as ethnicity goes, this was a great chance to learn about different cultures and meet people from all sorts of backgrounds," says Haberer. "I also learned a lot about our province. It is one thing to learn the characteristics of Ontario from a textbook, but to hear about a community from the perspective of someone who has lived there all their life is something else. I can't get over the diversity and potential that Ontario possesses. It's quite amaz- ing," adds Haberer. Haberer says the conference was designed to allow teenagers, who are passionate about politics, let their voices be heard, especially since opportunities are not readily available. "This may be the only chance that we get to have our voices heard so clearly in the world of politics. If 103 teenagers can be passionate about a seemingly dull subject, there must be something to it," says Haberer. The participants "took part in group discussions, heard from current and former politicians and learned a semester's worth of political science in a matter of a few days." Haberer says a highlighted speaker for her was 22 -year-old Desmond Cole who was a Toronto city councillor candidate, placing third. Haberer said because he was so young and actual- ly was living in poverty with all of his personal belongings in a duffel bag, he was inspiring. "The Student's Assembly was run as a parallel to the Citizen's Assembly of Ontario and the outcome of the Student's Assembly will be presented to the Citizen's Assembly next February," says Haberer. "Ontario's current electoral system, first past the post, has been used since Canada's first parliament was elected, about 200 years ago and many Ontarians believe it is time to explore change, and these assemblies will get the ball rolling," adds Haberer. The Citizen's Assembly over the next year will decide on an electoral system which will work in Ontario, "taking the opinions of the Student's Assembly, Ontario's students and Ontario's citizens into account as they make their decision." Haberer says if the province looks at a new system, a referendum will appear on the ballot for the 2007 provincial election, allowing voters to vote in favour or against electoral reform. If 60 per cent of voters vote in favour of reform, the changes will take place, according to Haberer. "As the assembly discussed different electoral sys- tems, it became clear that they were searching for change, strong local representation, and proportion- ality between votes and seats. The Student's, Assembly voted in favour of the system `Mixed Member Plurality.' This system provides strong local representation, less distortion in seat share, and more representation of small parties and indepen- dents in the Legislature," says Haberer, adding, "it is not just members of the Citizen's, Student's and assemblies who have a say in this process however. This is the only time that citizens have been given this much control regarding a change in govern- ment." For any Ontarian interested in having their voice heard the Citizen's Assembly is hosting electoral 7-3 losses for Lucan Irish LUCAN — The Lucan Irish dropped a pair of 7-3 losses last week to slip to 6-10-0 with 12 points. North Middlesex leads the conference with 31 points, one ahead of Lambeth while Tavistock leads the league overall with 34 points. Central Elgin was in Lucan Nov. 22 and was tied 2-2 with the Irish after one period with Kyle Smith and Bob Martin each get- ting one for Lucan. It was all Express in the second period as they scored three times to build a 5-2 lead. Justin Lightfoot notched another for the Irish in the third but it was all they could get as Central Elgin added two more including an empty net goal to seal the win. Lucan was looking to get back on the whi- ning track Nov. 24 as they hosted North Middlesex but a 3-3 tie after two periods turned into four straight goals for the Stars on the way to the 7-3 win. Smith got the lone goal for the Irish in the first as they were down by one goal after one period. The Irish scored two goals 40 seconds apart from Jeff Silver and Kevin Dean in the second. The Stars replied once in the period leav- ing it 3-3 going into the third before putting the game away with four unanswered goals. Lucan has one game this week with Mitchell in Lucan tonight (Wednesday) at 7:45 p.m. 8-5 loss for Hensall Sherwoods HENSALL — The Hensall Sherwoods were at home Nov. 25 to face the Clinton Radars and ended up on the short end of a wide open 8-5 loss. The loss gives the Sherwoods a 5-4-1 record for 11 points with the Lucan-Ilderton Jets lead- ing the southern conference and the league overall with 19 points. The Radars are in second in the conference with 18 points followed by Tavistock with 16. Saturday afternoon in Hensall the teams fired three goals apiece in the first period with Jeremy VanBergen, Chris Kennedy and Shawn Sherwood each notching goals for Hensall. Two more goals in the second period from J.R. Davies and Jeremy Geoffrey gave the Sherwoods a 5-3 lead going into the third but it was all Clinton in the final period. Five straight goals in the third, including three in a three minute stretch gave the Radars a come -from -behind 8-5 win. Hensall has a pair of games this weekend starting Saturday when Monkton is hi Hensall at 7:30 p.m. The Sherwoods will face Tavistock on Sunday in Zurich at 4 p.m. for a makeup game. Spice Girls win EXETER — The People's Choice Award for the 1st Community Living South Huron Chili Cook -off went to "The Spice Girls," Steven Monteith, Anne Fydenchuk, Community Living resource support worker and chili cook -off organizer Katie Fox and Community Living support worker and chili cook -off orga- nizer Tara Broadbent with 26 votes. Second place went to "Hansen's Independent Grocer's Chili Chicks" with 25 votes and third was "The ARC Staffs Gut Busters Team" with 18 votes. Fox says everyone had a great time partici- pating in the event and it will run again next year. Huron -Bruce student representative — South Huron District High School Grade I I student Lauren Haberer recently returned from a Student's Assembly on Electoral Reform, representing Huron -Bruce. (photo/submitted) reform public consultations in communities through- out the province allowing the public to make a pre- sentation and participate in discussion. Comments can also be posted on the Citizen's Assembly website at www. citizensassembly. ca High school students also have the opportunity to get involved. Several schools throughout the area are participat- ing in the Classroom Assembly program. Teachers can obtain more information and cur- riculum materials at www.studentsassembly.ca Haberer says it's important for students to partici- pate in the voting process because "we are the next generation," adding if a new system comes into effect, it will be the youth who are most impacted. "By the time a new system is implemented, the youth of today will be eligible to vote, and will thus be using the system that is being chosen today. The only group in Ontario that isn't eligible to vote is peo- ple under 18," says Haberer. "This is their chance for empowerment and this chance shouldn't be ignored." Take control of your finances Canadians are known as thrifty spenders - many people view us as a boring lot more inclined to put money under the mattress than to spend on personal luxuries and conveniences. But increasingly, Canadians are spending beyond our means in order to tackle the challenges of every day life. Our living costs are increasing while in many cases salaries are barely keeping pace with inflation. Taking control of personal finances is a matter of developing a sound program of budgeting, expense control and good plan- ning. 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