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Community Engagement & Communications
Citizenship Congress
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CITIZENSHIP CONGRESS; FEB. 16-20, 2023, OTTAWA ON
First introduced in 1972, the goal of Citizenship Congress is to provide youth with the opportunity to develop strong public speaking skills, while gaining an understanding of democratic processes and civic engagement. Due to COVID-19 concerns in 2022, the 50th Anniversary event was postponed until February 2023.
In 2023, Citizenship Congress saw delegates from across Canada to delve into a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms issue under the theme, Examining Freedom of Speech: Exploring Accountability for Public Communications. The event included opportunities to network, engage with both Members of Parliament and the Senate of Canada, and participate in a variety of workshops on parliamentary procedure, careers, and Canadian citizenship. Citizenship Congress closed with the signature annual Mock Debate. Delegates were honoured to be back in the Senate of Canada Chamber for this cornerstone component of the event.
2023 CITIZENSHIP CONGRESS DEBATE RESOLUTION:
“Be it resolved that the Government of Canada hold online [social media] platforms accountable for the [hate-speech/misinformation] postings of its users.”
• 96.3% of youth participants felt the debate resolution was fun, challenging, and relevant.
