Elders Parliament

The Honourable Speaker of the Legislative Assembly introduced Elders Parliament to the legislature in May 2010.  This program was designed to allow elders to voice concerns on issues that affect them, and also showcases our unique form of consensus government here in the Northwest Territories.
 
One elder is chosen from each of the 19 constituencies in the NWT through an application process. Once all applications have been received, a selection committee from the Office of the Clerk will carefully go through each application and choose the person that will represent each constituency and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Once the applicants have been selected, they will receive a letter from the Speaker with details about the program.
 
The participants from communities will have travel, meals and accommodations taken care of for the five days that they are in attendance. Yellowknife participants have the option of staying in a hotel and enjoying the full experience of Elders Parliament.
 
Once in Yellowknife, the selected participants will have some challenging tasks set out for them! The elders will get

Legislative Assembly Chamber

to meet with their MLA, will create a Member’s or Minister’s Statement, and will have one day in the Chamber where they will conduct a ‘mock parliament’.
 
This program is an opportunity for elders in the NWT to gain hands-on knowledge about what an MLA does and a better understanding of what happens behind the scenes at the Legislative Assembly. It also gives MLAs a chance to hear the views of elders in the NWT.
 
Elders Parliament will not be all work and no play! During their stay in Yellowknife, participants will take part in many social activities and will have the chance to get to know elders from across the territory.  This program will be held every two years with the next Elders Parliament tentatively scheduled for May 5-8, 2014 (subject to change).  Applications will be accepted until March 7, 2014!