It’s still three years till the next federal election, but the Liberal Party is getting ready by launching the Timmins-James Bay Young Liberal Riding Association on Sunday, at Lever Law Office.
The Young Liberals of Canada, Timmins James Bay Riding was born Sunday night and for the first time in eight years the youth wing has become a reality in helping to attract young people not only to the Liberal Party but into politics itself.
“I am proud to announce that the founding executive committee of the Young Liberals for Timmins - James Bay Young,” said Nicholas Harterre a grade 11 student attending Ecole Secondaire Catholique Theriault, after the meeting.
The executive of the Timmins-James Bay Young Liberals consists of Nicholas Harterre, President; Michelle Curry (Timmins High and Vocational School), Treasurer, Sam Harterre (Theriault), Cole Chisholm (Theriault) and Justin Gadoury (Theriault).
Before speaking to the Timmins media, the executive met with Todd Lever, CEO of the Timmins-James Bay Liberal Riding Association, who was connected via Skype to the meeting, and his face appeared on a laptop in the centre of the Lever Law boardroom table.
Lever Law is the law office run by Todd Lever, former city councillor and Liberal candidate during the October 19, 2015 federal election and came in second to the NDP’s Charlie Angus.
Angus has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Timmins-James Bay Riding since the 2004 general election. He is the national caucus chair for the New Democratic Party as well as its critic on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
According to an email that was sent by Nicholas Harterre prior to the meeting, the Young Liberals of Canada is the youth wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. The youth wing works alongside the party through campaigning, policy and fundraising.
“This is as much as a political organization, as it is an amazing and unique opportunity for youth in our community to get involved in real politics.”
“This type of association stood from 2007 to 2008 in our riding," Nicholas Harterre said in his email. “I am very happy to say that not only are were re-instating it, but we will come back stronger than before.”
“The political demographics of our region are changing,” added Harterre, “and we will be there to shape its direction.”
Harterre concluded his message by saying: “Moving forward towards future elections, the Timmins - James Bay Young Liberals will be actively involved in our community to promote the Liberal Party as well as youth involvement in politics and democracy. “
Stephen Kidd President of the Timmins-James Bay Conservative Electoral District Association was appreciative of the fact that Timmins youth are getting interested in politics.
“I want to congratulate the Young Liberals for forming their association,” said Kidd.
“It’s very important for young people to get involved with the political process, whether it is with Conservative Party, the Liberals or the NDP,” Kidd added. “The involvement of youth in politics provides us with better choices in the long run.”
Kidd also said that the Conservative Timmins-James Bay Electoral District Association will have a meeting later in the week and the Conservative Youth wing will be a focus for discussion.
TimminsToday.com also asked for a comment from the Timmins-James Bay NDP Riding Association but as of the submission of this story they have not responded to the request.
Nicholas Harterre has been involved with the Liberals for two years, since he was in Grade 9.
“I went to the Liberal policy convention last year and I met a lot of young Liberals from across Canada," said Harterre.
“That got me interested in re-starting the Young Liberals in Timmins,” he added.
Harterre sees one of important goals of the Young Liberals is to push for policies that are of interest and benefit to youth so that it becomes the Liberal Party of Canada’s policy and eventually the law of land.
“Many young people are not attracted to politics because it can be dry and they think it doesn’t affect their lives,” Harterre said, “But that is changing since Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister and we have seen a lot of young people starting to become involved.”
Some of the issues of concern for the executive of the Young Liberal are the possibility of lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. They are also concerned about indigenous and northern issues as well.
One of the first projects on the executive’s agenda is to invite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Timmins.
And will Harterre one day run for office?
“We will see,” he responded.
