Many of the milestones in Canadian history over the last 150 years have been marked by a speech. Sir John A. Macdonald’s impassioned plea for Confederation, the Speech from the Throne read by the Queen, and Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s address to Parliament following the signing of the Proclamation of the Constitution—these are just a few of the speeches that have captured the spirit of the nation at various intersections of Canadian history.

It is my pleasure to invite young Canadians from across the country to participate in the Speakers’ Speech Writing Contest. Through this national contest, students are being asked to mark the latest turning point in Canadian history, the 150th anniversary of Confederation, by writing a speech of their own answering the question: “What does Parliament mean to you?”

A copy of a promotional advertisement is on file with the House of Commons Printing Service. Printed promotional material will also be sent to your Hill offices.
Three (3) finalists will be selected from each age category and, along with a parent or guardian will be flown to Ottawa for two days of special programming in the nation’s capital. The winners in each age group will be announced at a reception that I will host with Speaker Furey in early June.

Students interested in entering the contest are encouraged to visit the contest page to obtain further details and find out how to apply. We encourage young Canadians to submit their speech in the official language of their choice.

For any questions relating to the Speakers’ Speech Writing Contest, please contact the Library of Parliament Information Service at 613-992-4793 or toll-free at 1-866-599-4999. The contest closes on April 21, 2017.