Nathan Cullen launches Create Your Canada contest

MP Nathan Cullen is turning to the youth of the riding to tell him was they would like to see enshrined into Canadian Law.

Skeena – Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen is turning to the youth of the riding to tell him was they would like to see enshrined into Canadian Law.

Cullen launched the 2015 Create Your Canada contest on April 2, a competition that encourages students from across the riding to submit a bill that addresses an issue under the jurisdiction of the federal government. The writer of the two winning bills, as chosen by a panel of judges, will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Ottawa to see spend a day on Parliament Hill with Cullen and witness him introduce the legislation into the House of Commons as a private members bill.

Cullen began the Create Your Canada contest in 2009, with previous winners pitching bills to ban the mining and export of asbestos, create tax incentives for skill hills willing to offer reduced rates to those who use helmets and allow people to donate a portion of their tax return to registered charities through a new section on the tax forms. Regardless what the bill is and how far it gets in the House of Commons, Cullen said the competition is certainly worthwhile.

“This is an incredibly fun project for students in the riding. Each time we’ve done this, the winners and I, we all had a blast in Ottawa,” he said.

“I hope that students in the riding take up the challenge and submit some creative and inspiring ideas.”

Students can submit up to two ideas to nathan.cullen.c2@parl.gc.ca by 9 p.m. on May 1. For more information on the contest, visit nathancullen.com/createyourcanada.

The Northern View