Help Support Young Peoples Rights to be Heard and the Ottawa Youth Commission

Hello Friends of the Ottawa Youth Commission and CAYFO

As you may know, the Ottawa Youth Commission is slated to be cut in the new 2008 Budget. We believe that youth have a legitimate place in the governance of Ottawa and that to eliminate funding to the youth voice eliminates their rights to be heard and participate in matters that affect them. We are asking for your help in our letter writing campaign. We are aiming to fill the in boxes and mail slots of our City Councilors and lead them to vote in favour of keeping the youth voice within City Hall and the Commission.

I have attached a sample letter which you can choose to paste onto your own letter head and sign as is, but feel free to write your own letter and share your own perspectives. I have also attached a link to the City of Ottawa website which lists all the contact information for the Ottawa City Councilors. Considering the timely nature of the request, I urge you at act quickly. As well, please feel free to send this email on to your contacts.

http://ottawa.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/councillors/index_en.html

Also, the Commission will be making a presentation to the Committee of the Whole Budget Review on DECEMBER 3rd at 5pm. We are hoping to fill the Council Chambers at 110 Laurier Ave with over 200 youth and friends of the Commission. Pizza will be supplied.

Please JOIN US on December 3rd in the Council Chambers for our presentation. Please join us and support young people's rights to be heard.

With appreciation,

Melanie Davis, Keri Abella and CJOYC



The letter is pasted here for your convenience.

___________________________________________



Dear Councilor __________,


Youth have a legitimate place in the governance of Ottawa and should not be silenced!

Cutting the Youth Commission's $29,000.00 from the city budget will put an end to the representation of young people and the advocacy of youth within the City of Ottawa. I strongly urge you to reconsider the proposed budget and vote in favour of keeping the Youth Commission. By doing so, you validate and recognize youth participation and young people's rights to be heard as integral components of a healthy and inclusive society.

In 2006 City Hall put out a call to community agencies to create a Youth Commission in the City of Ottawa. Commission de la Jeunesse d'Ottawa Youth Commission answered this call. Through this partnership the City of Ottawa stepped up to recognize and validate young people as active and contributing members of Ottawa now, not future citizens or leaders of tomorrow. This partnership has served the City, its tax payers and its young residents well.

Since its inception, Commission de la Jeunesse d'Ottawa Youth Commission has facilitated youth inclusion and engaged over 1500 young people in youth surveys, community mapping and dialogue sessions to find out youth needs in Ottawa, what changes they would like to see, how youth can bring about these changes and how adults and City Hall can shape policies and take action on issues that directly affect youth. Engaging youth in decision making processes has real value. It helps the City of Ottawa make meaningful decisions that are more responsive and relevant to youth needs and interests and benefits the community at large.

Youth between 15 and 24 years of age comprise 14% of the Ottawa community (Statistics Canada, 2006). That is 14% of the population whose contributions and potential as community decision makers, planners and builders will be undervalued and not recognized if the Commission is cut. The Commission is in its infancy, but imagine the potential positive change that is possible if the Youth Commission continues and the energy, talents, creativity and unique perspectives of these 114,000 youth were encouraged to their full potential.

Do not choose to cut this very valuable Commission. Commission de la Jeunesse d'Ottawa Youth Commission must be an integral component of the City of Ottawa. Only then will the traditional approaches towards youth begin to evolve and the commitments to them begin to have meaning.