Crook Supports Dion, Ignatieff on National Exchange Program

Last January, I served as Prime Minister of the 72^rd session of the Universities’ Model Parliament here in BC. The centerpiece of my throne speech was a policy I’ve been advocating within the party since the summer of 2004: a national exchange program for young Canadians. For canadians to have a strong national identity, we must foster shared experience. The country would be strengthened if Quebeckers had some experience of life in Alberta, if British Columbians knew something of Northern Ontario, if Maritimers had experienced life in Toronto. As I wrote in the throne speech regarding the policy:

“…you will be asked to consider legislation creating a National Civic Experience Program for Canadian students. Through this program my government hopes to strengthen the bonds of Confederation, to reinvigorate the national dream in the hearts of a generation and to broaden the experience of young Canadians - helping them to realize how many doors are open to them and how many opportunities lay before them…

…By implementing the National Civic Experience program my government proposes, Canada will do much to bring what have become fractured and isolated regional experiences into a shared experience of our immense cultural and geographic diversity. This initiative has the potential to do more good for the unity of our confederation than any program since the National Railway.”

When I first met Mr. Ignatieff at a small lunch last November, we discussed national unity and agreed that it could only be achieved if citizens had some experience in the diversity of regions and cultures that make up the country. Since I was already working on early drafts of my throne speech and wanted some feedback, I mentioned my program. After hearing my idea, he said he would fight to get such a program funded by any government he became a part of.

Well, it turns out that another Liberal MP already had this idea; he even fought to have it funded. That MP is now leader of the Party. Antoine Robitaille, in Monday’s Le Devoir, includes the following quote (h/t) from Mr. Dion regarding the Millenium Scholarship Program:

«J'étais contre cette initiative. Je ne voulais pas identifier le changement de siècle à une chicane fédérale-provinciale. J'avais proposé plutôt un grand programme d'échanges pour les jeunes [...]. On ne m'a pas écouté»

(My rough translation)
“I was against this initiative. I didn’t want to identify the changing of the century with federal-provincial sophistry. I proposed a grand youth exchange program…they didn’t listen to me.

I look forward to the day that Mr. Dion, with Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. Trudeau standing behind him announces that a Liberal government will include such a program in it's first session.