Grade 11 student at Holy Rosary High School Matthew Zelenka had the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a MLA in Edmonton.
The three day trip is part of the MLA for a Day program that gives high school students the chance to learn about local politics. Zelenka says he wanted to be part of the program in order to understand the job of a politician.
“I feel like a lot of youth today are a little bit disconnected from local politicians. There’s a lot of news going around about the federal level and such. I feel like I should get to know the more localized level of politics.”
Zelenka met up with MLA for Vermilion Lloydminster Dr. Richard Starke, sat in on a debate and listened to a panel of former MLA’s discuss the current role of a MLA.
“I learned a lot about what MLA’s do and how they do it, especially in the legislator. I learned about their policies and procedures and etiquette in the legislator building itself. I actually had the chance to sit on a debate, which was very interesting and got to see how difficult the MLA’s job is.”
Zelenka says that he would recommend this program to anyone interested in politics because he learned a lot.