YORKTON - Yorkton Councillor Dustin Brears is hoping to create a process where the city hears from youth more directly.
At the most recent regular meeting of Yorkton Council Aug. 9, Brears set the wheels in-motion toward the possible establishment of a ‘youth committee’ which would meet on a regular basis to give feedback on issues.
It is an idea Brears said he had in mind from his election to Council.
“I didn’t know how it might look,” he admitted, adding initially he wondered if one of two youth might just sit at the Council table and have some sort of non-voting voice.
Then Brears said busy day-to-day things “kind of got in the way” and the idea ended up shelved.
But when Brears saw that Moose Jaw was headed toward a youth committee, he said it was time to get the idea rolling locally.
Now Brears said he sees the concept fashioned much like other committees of Council where members are appointed, then meet to discuss and give feedback on items that are before Council, or that are generated by the committee.
“We want youth to stick around town,” said Brears, so it makes sense to get them involved more directly with how the city is run.
The committee would likely be made up of pre-voting age high school students – but the exact structure is yet to be determined – the matter was left with city administration to prepare a report.
For Brears the key is to set the stage now – ahead of this fall’s municipal election – so whoever is mayor when committees are next struck can fill the new youth one.
So if bringing a small group of youth why not other specific groups – First Nations, or newcomers as examples?
“It’s something I’ve never considered,” said Brears, adding anything that provides a conduit for citizens to connect with its Council is worthy of consideration.
As it is Brears said as a former committee member before his election to Council he truly believes that Council listens to the committees, and that is a very positive thing.
