Feds Asked To Fund Northern Youth Council

Feds Asked To Fund Northern Youth Council

Friday, June 23, 2006 at 14:56

A northern youth leader from Ile-a-la-Crosse was in Regina today to meet with a number of federal government departments regarding the establishment of a proposed Northern Saskatchewan Youth Council.

Brennan Merasty, a councilllor in the northern village, was seeking federal support for the initiative, and he believes the federal representatives were quite receptive to the idea.

Merasty says a youth council is needed to combat what he sees as a lack of long-term investment and commitment to northern youth.

Ile-a-la-Crosse mayor Max Morin says he’s noticed that young people have become somewhat skeptical of northern youth initiatives, because there hasn’t been enough delivered on recommendations.

Merasty feels a council will enable interested organizations to plan and support youth initiatives in the North.

In addition to the government, Merasty plans to canvass the corporate sector for program and operational funding.

The plan to organize the Northern Saskatchewan Youth Council will be discussed at the annual South Bay Youth Conference in August. Merasty will organize the election of an interim council at that gathering.