CREDIT: JANE LYTVYNENKO/CANADIAN UNIVERSITY PRESS
Your Question Period was created to encourage Canada's youth to be active and engaged with politics.

OTTAWA (CUP) — In the last federal election, only 39 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 24 voted, but a new initiative aims to raise those numbers. The Your Question Period program was designed to allow Canadian citizens, rather than just politicians, the opportunity to pose their questions to the Senate.

To participate, Canadians go to the Liberal Senate Forum’s website and submit a question. If selected, they will be contacted to let them know which senator is asking the question and on what day. Afterward, they’ll receive a copy of the answer.

Senator James Cowan, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, is confident the program will increase voter engagement.

“Your Question Period encourages a role for people who otherwise would not be involved in politics, and people seem pleased with it,” he said.

In January of this year, Justin Trudeau dismissed all 32 Liberal senators from his caucus in an attempt to encourage and take action on Senate reform. Your Question Period was created in March by the former Liberal senators who are now sitting as independents.

Cowan believes that questions coming straight from the public will force politicians to be more accountable. “Sometimes government will dance around the question if another senator asks it, but they must answer one from the public,” he said.

But not all believe the new program will fix Canada’s chronic problem with political engagement. Don Lenihan, a senior associate at the Public Policy Forum, said it doesn’t fix the underlying problems.

“There are other ways to encourage political participation,” said Lenihan. “The Reform Party used to do a similar program, but stopped due to lack of response. I think it’s a fine program, but it only treats the symptoms. It doesn’t ask why people are so politically inactive to begin with.”

Cowan said he believes the lack of political activity in Canada is a result of widespread cynicism.

“People ask if their politicians really care,” he said. “Scientists and public service can’t speak. Charities and organizations that criticize the current government get audited.” The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is currently being audited by the Canada Revenue Agency. More than 400 academics from universities across Canada signed a petition in protest of the move, claiming it is politically motivated.

“We preach around the world how important democracy is, but it doesn’t happen in our own borders,” said Cowan. “This question period is part of showing people that government will listen.”

Cowan said he wants more students participating in politics. He explained that since he and other former Liberal caucus members were forced out, they hold their own open caucuses. Cowan said they are considering holding future caucuses at the University of Ottawa to encourage students to get involved.