19 high school students from across the territory took their seats in the Legislative Assembly chamber on Thursday as part of Youth Parliament 2025, voicing concerns on issues affecting their communities — just like real MLAs.
During the two and a half hours session, youth ministers and members raised topics including housing affordability, smoking and vaping, shortage of healthcare professionals and lack of sports infrastructure in smaller communities.
They also debated three non-binding motions: calling for harsher sentences for drug offenders, requiring students to remain in school until age 18, and increasing funding for students pursuing degrees in education or medicine.
Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh youth MLA Anderson Lennie said drug trafficking is a deeply personal issue for him.
“Our communities shouldn’t be taken advantage of,” he told CKLB.
“This year, one of my friends who was mostly likely on drugs has taken their life,” Lennie said. “I really don’t like drugs, it’s a terrible problem that affects my community and it’s a really hard problem to deal with.”
Fort Good Hope, Lennie’s home community, has seen a spike in drug-related crimes in recent months, including the fatal stabbing of a 29-year-old man, the seizure of crystal meth, crack cocaine and fentanyl from a luxury vehicle on the winter road, and cocaine found at the local airport.
Anderson Lennie discussing drug issues at the parliament. (Josie Jiaxuan Wu/CKLB)
Lennie said sometimes kids decide to try drugs out of curiosity or to reduce stress, while others might be forced into it by peer pressure.
“What I want is for parents to be more involved with their kids and keep a closer eye because there’ll always be someone preying on their kids, trying to sell them drugs or give them alcohol,” he said.
Lennie was among the 15 MLAs to support the motion of tougher sentences for drug trafficking, while youth MLAs representing Hay River South, Sahtu, and Mackenzie Delta voted against it.
Kailee Wentland, youth MLA for Hay River South and minister of municipal and community affairs, argued that harsher sentences “often fail to address the root cause of drug-related problems and instead contribute to overcrowded prisons, broken communities, and persistent cycles of addiction.”
She advocated for a focus on rehabilitation and education as a “more humane, effective and sustainable” solution.
‘Education is a fundamental right’
The second motion, proposed by Yellowknife Centre youth MLA Divine Lobe Manga, sparked a heated discussion on whether students should be required to stay in school until the age of 18.
“In the Northwest Territories, many young people are leaving school prematurely, often due to financial pressure, a lack of engagement, or limited awareness of the opportunities that education can provide,” said Manga.
She argued that education opens the door to higher paying jobs and increases literacy.
Youth ministers and MLAs discussed issues on drug trafficking, education and housing at the 2025 Youth Parliament in Yellowknife on May 1. (Josie Jiaxuan Wu/CKLB)
Only three youth MLAs voted in favor of this motion. Others raised concerns that some students might be the sole breadwinner for their families or responsible for caring for younger siblings.
“I disagree with this motion because you can never know what somebody’s personal situation is like,” said Great Slave youth MLA Jack Penney. “Making them stay in school until they’re 18 may open doors in the future, but what good is opening those doors if their family can’t survive?”
“Dropping out of school to work a minimum wage job is not a solution,” said Frame Lake’s Peter Mahon who strongly supported the motion. “We should not be prioritizing child labor over education.”
“We need to prioritize education to get an educated population who will be able to make informed choices and support the NWT,” he added.
The motion failed by a vote 16 to 3.
‘It was fun and informative’
Liyah Yakeleya-Grymaloski, youth minister of education, culture and employment, said she was inspired to take part in Youth Parliament by her family members: former MLA Norman Yakeleya and current Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya.
“I feel like they were born to be leaders and share their voices, so I just wanted to follow along as well,” said Yakeleya-Grymaloski. “The biggest thing I learned is not to be shy and speak out about the issues you care about.”
Liyah Yakeleya-Grymaloski on improving the territory’s education curriculum. (Josie Jiaxuan Wu/CKLB)
“Our youth should go to events like these at least once in their life,” said Lennie. “It’s very informative—you can learn more about politics and try to come up with ways to help your community.”
This year marked the 26th Youth Parliament held at the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife. The program offers 19 seats annually, with nearly 500 students having participated since it began.
Applications for the 2026 session will open in September.
