By Dave Branco

Poli-sci students take Parliament for a test drive

Apr 2, 2026 | 3:25 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – For the second consecutive year, University of Northern British Columbia political science students have taken over the Senate Chamber not to observe democracy, but to practice it.

The mock parliament exercise put students in the roles of Members of Parliament, debating a Conservative bill to build an LNG pipeline from Alberta to Prince Rupert. As in real politics, it was divided: some students supported the proposal, while others opposed it.

UNBC political science instructor Jason Morris says the exercise builds skills that traditional exams simply cannot measure, including public speaking, critical thinking, and the ability to construct and defend an argument under pressure.

Morris describes the mock parliament as a safe space for students to wrestle with the real challenges of governance before they ever have to face them in a professional setting.

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For the students involved, the takeaway reaches beyond any single policy debate. The experience is designed to reinforce the idea that democracy requires active participation, not just academic study.