Ontario Model Parliament
Encyclopedia
The Ontario Model Parliament (OMP) is a model parliament
for high school
students in Ontario
, Canada
. The OMP was founded in 1986, much through the efforts of Dr. Paul Bennett, a former history master at Upper Canada College
in Toronto
. The OMP is not affiliated with any political party.
Approximately 200 students participate in the OMP each year. The annual OMP commences with an "Elections Day", in which the "government" and "opposition" are established. The delegates then prepare their "legislation" for the legislative sessions held in the spring. The students convene at Queen's Park, the legislative building for Ontario. The students debate their bills
as if they were real Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). In addition, the delegates hear from keynote speakers. In the past, such speakers have included John Tory
(Leader of the Opposition
for Ontario), James K. Bartleman
, the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario
and Rex Murphy
, political commentator and host of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
's Cross Country Checkup. Ontario Model Parliament will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011.
Model parliament
A Model Parliament is a simulation of the parliamentary proceedings of a legislature or other deliberative assembly, often based upon the Westminster Parliamentary system...
for high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
students in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The OMP was founded in 1986, much through the efforts of Dr. Paul Bennett, a former history master at Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The OMP is not affiliated with any political party.
Approximately 200 students participate in the OMP each year. The annual OMP commences with an "Elections Day", in which the "government" and "opposition" are established. The delegates then prepare their "legislation" for the legislative sessions held in the spring. The students convene at Queen's Park, the legislative building for Ontario. The students debate their bills
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
as if they were real Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). In addition, the delegates hear from keynote speakers. In the past, such speakers have included John Tory
John Tory
John Howard Tory is a Canadian businessman, political activist, former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, former Member of Provincial Parliament and broadcaster...
(Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)
The Leader of the Opposition in Ontario is usually leader of the largest party in the Ontario legislature which is not the government. The current official opposition is formed by the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, and Tim Hudak is the current Leader of the Opposition.Ontario's first...
for Ontario), James K. Bartleman
James K. Bartleman
James Karl Bartleman, O.Ont is a Canadian diplomat, author, and was the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 2002 to 2007....
, the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario
Lieutenant-Governors of Ontario
The following is a list of the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Ontario. Though the present day office of the lieutenant governor in Ontario came into being only upon the province's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1867, the post is a continuation from the first governorship of Upper...
and Rex Murphy
Rex Murphy
Rex Murphy is a Canadian commentator and author, primarily on Canadian political and social matters.Murphy was born in Carbonear, Newfoundland, 105 kilometres west of St. John's and is the second of five children of Harry and Marie Murphy...
, political commentator and host of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's Cross Country Checkup. Ontario Model Parliament will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011.
Past simulations
| Session | Year | Location | Junior Premier | Senior Premier | Chairs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 2011 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Lucas Manucha | Kaleem Hawa | Jamie Henderson, Ryan Manucha & Shashwat Koirala | |
| 24 | 2010 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Christopher Taylor | Kaleem Hawa | Ali Jutha & Jamie Henderson | |
| 23 | 2009 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Taylor Webb | Jeremiah Rivers | John Henderson & Ali Jutha | |
| 22 | 2008 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Ryan Manucha | Kyle Crawford | David Marshall & John Henderson | |
| 21 | 2007 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Steven Xu | Will Meneray | Emma Groia & David Marshall | |
| 20 | 2006 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Jaimie Hildebrand | Shamir Dawood | Emma Groia & Brandon Soeiro | |
| 19 | 2005 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Steven Lee | Brandon Soeiro & Zachary Schwartz | ||
| 18 | 2004 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Chris Horkins | Rahim Bapoo & Brandon Soeiro | ||
| 17 | 2003 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Farouk Hussein | Mark Salzman & Derrick Leung | ||
| 16 | 2002 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Chanakya Sethi | |||
| 15 | 2001 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Ryan Gallagher | |||
| 14 | 2000 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Jonathan Schachter & Jamie Cameron | |||
| 13 | 1999 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Sagar Chandaria & Tim Tutsch | |||
| 12 | 1998 | Upper Canada College & Queen's Park | Martin Ross | |||
Dates
For 2011, the dates for OMP are the following:- Elections Day: March 5, 2011
- Simulation: April 27th-29th, 2011
Governance
For 2011, the Ontario Model Parliament Executive includes:- Consulting Chair: Jamie Henderson
- Operations Chairs: Ryan Manucha and Shashwat Koirala
- Chief of Staff: Malik Ismail
- Secretary: Sebastian Marotta
- Director of Events and Activities: Frankie Lam
- Director of Outreach and Advancement: Brandon Sit
- Director of Marketing and Registration: Vincent Lam
- Director of Academic Programming: Malik Ismail
- Director of Communications: Matthew Henderson
- Associate Director of Registration: Jason Pang
- Associate Director of Marketing: Dean Ricci
- Associate Director of Events and Activities: Nishan Thayalan
- Associate Director of Speakers: Sebastian Marotta
- Associate Director of Security: Seamus Power
- Associate Director of Information Technology: Winston Kwok
- Associate Director of Academic Programming: Chris Taylor
- Associate Director of Academic Special Events: Simran Ahluwalia
- Lead Researcher, Academic Programming: Jeff Weaver
- Lead Writer, Hansard: Eric Tweel
- Associate Director of Advancement and Alumni: Chris Taylor
- Associate Director of UCC OMP Programme: Daniel Chiang
- Faculty Adviser: Mr. Matt Griem