Key priorities we need to consider...

• Young people think, communicate, and work together very differently than older generations. They are the "net-generation".
• All young people want to have a voice and can play a role in shaping the future of the province. Youth leaders play an important role in advocating youth priorities and interests. However, the most successful strategies and solutions will require the input and engagement of the diverse group of young people that live throughout the province.
• Real youth engagement occurs on an ongoing basis, at all levels of society. It is not a "one-of" deal or special event. It is a way of working together to shape public policy, community development, and society in general.
  Voter turn-out among young people for general elections is significantly lower than the general public both within Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada.
• Voter turn-out among young people for general elections is significantly lower than the general public both within Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada.
• The low level of youth engagement in democratic processes is a significant concern, but especially so among young women.

We have a strong foundation to build on...

• Youth want to be involved, and to have a voice in shaping public policy. The Provincial Government has been building its capacity for citizen engagement.

• The Provincial Government has been building its capacity for citizen engagement.

  • Youth have been engaged in prioritizing initiatives for student debt reduction and fully participated in the Round Table on Student Debt in January 2009.
  • The Rural Secretariat has a mandate to support citizen engagement and the application of a "rural lens" to public policy initiatives.

• Community partners, including the Rural Secretariat Regional Councils, Regional Economic Development Boards, labour and employer organizations, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, and community members are committed to helping create a province of choice.

  • Over 870 people and organizations (outside of the young people involved in the Dialogue sessions) provided feedback during the Strategy development.

• The Provincial Government is already acting and rethinking approaches to increase participation in democratic processes.

  • The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer is focusing on youth in its 2008-2011 Business Plan.
  • The Department of Municipal Affairs recently launched the online MakeYourMark campaign for the Municipal Elections.
  • The Department of Education has been promoting the Ready, Set, Vote! Campaign for School Board elections.
• The establishment of the Province's Office of the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector and new investments of $1.1M in 2009/2010 are significant measures to strengthen relationships between the Province and the voluntary and non-profit sector, promote volunteerism and social enterprise, and enhance the capacity of the sector.

Government

1. The Provincial Government will build upon the momentum generated through the Youth Dialogue process and send a loud, clear message to the youth of Newfoundland and Labrador that the Province has committed to their ideas and priorities for creating a province of choice by designating a Minister Responsible for Youth Engagement. This Ministerial position will act as a champion for youth engagement, incorporating the youth voice on social and economic issues and policy, including youth retention and attraction; providing direction on the recommendation of strategies affecting young adults; advising departments and Ministers on programs and policy objectives; and representing the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on youth retention and attraction issues.
2. This Ministerial position will be supported by an Office of Youth Engagement responsible for ensuring a coordinated approach among partners and departments in the implementation and ongoing development of youth retention and attraction strategies.
3. A Youth Partnership Forum for recruitment and retention will be established. Members of the Youth Advisory Panel for the Strategy and Youth Advisory Committee, youth representatives from labour, business, and education, as well as young citizens from across the province will be invited to participate in a quarterly forum to discuss the Strategy progress, current and emerging issues, and potential actions that may be put forward for Government's consideration to support the ongoing development of the Strategy.
4. An online Youth Portal will be developed and launched to provide a new communications tool for young people to engage with Government and put forward their ideas and priorities for youth retention and attraction and other issues. This web portal will also serve as a centralized access point to Government programs and services for youth. Visit www.youth.gov.nl.ca to get involved.
5. A guide will be developed to support and encourage government departments and communities in applying a Youth Lens when developing program and policy development initiatives to support youth retention and attraction.

Together, these five initiatives provide the critical mechanisms necessary to coordinate and lead ongoing youth engagement activities in policy areas across government, community, and society. They provide the basis for a true youth partnership with the Provincial Government that will allow for flexibility in implementing and developing initiatives for youth retention and attraction as well as effective and timely responses to emerging youth priorities.

Community

6. We will create a Youth Engagement Guide for community partners, service providers, and other interested groups to help increase youth participation in their planning processes and initiatives.
7. We will expand grants for youth to include a specific focus on Engagement and Leadership Development. These grants will provide opportunities for young people to participate in training and conferences that will help them develop the skills they need to fully contribute as members of local boards, agencies, and community groups. To find out more please visit the Harbour Breton Community Youth Network. To apply online click here.
8. We will actively support community organizations in developing strategic plans to increase youth participation in their activities.
9. We will actively promote and support the inclusion and participation of youth on provincial and regional advisory bodies and planning boards such as the Regional Economic Development Boards and Rural Secretariat Regional Councils.

Democratic Processes

10. We will explore the feasibility of an Online Voter Registry System as an innovative way of reaching youth and encouraging their participation in the voting process. We will also support ongoing youth participation in election processes for local boards and organizations, including municipal elections and school board elections.
11. We will support implementation of the "Experiences" program throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Experiences is a mentorship program that aims to increase participation of women in democratic processes by engaging girls (12-18 yrs) and young women (18-25 yrs) in learning and thinking about the impact of politics on their lives and how they might become involved.

Download the CPRN Report "Making Newfoundland and Labrador a Province of Choice"

• Establish a youth secretariat.
• Implement a government-wide program of online and in-person youth engagement.
• Apply a "youth lens" in developing and determining public policy.
• Increase opportunities within current civics education courses to develop student leadership skills.
• Draw upon the experience of dialogue and Summit participants whenever possible as ambassadors for change.
• Explore the feasibility of implementing an electronic voter registry system.
• Continue collaboration with the voluntary sector to expand opportunities to volunteer, and increase youth participation in volunteer work.
• Position all current youth retention and attraction policies, programs and services and all future activity to make Newfoundland and Labrador a province of choice for young people.

"We are the destiny and future of this province, and we have a historical obligation to ensure our future. Government must take this seriously and must not simply rest and be satisfied that we were heard, but that our wishes are acted upon!"

Youth Participant

"I really value the feeling that what I'm saying really is going to contribute to this change."

Youth Participant

"Upon leaving, I felt like I did my part and felt included in decisions that will be made to benefit this province. I am excited to see what is to come...we can only go up from here."

Youth Participant

"I know that the youths' voices of NL can make a difference, now that we have the chance to speak. I'm going home knowing that I may be a part of big changes to Newfoundland and Labrador."

Youth Participant

"I am taking the self-satisfaction of actually being able to contribute my own thoughts and beliefs. I really enjoyed participating and believe we will make a difference in our province by being involved."

Youth Participant

"This [youth engagement process] has also taught me all the great reasons why people (especially us youth) hould stay and live in Newfoundland."

Youth Participant