‘North American Parliament’ under way Some hope exercise of U.S., Canadian, Mexican reps becomes reality
A group supporting North American integration is holding its fourth annual “North American Model Parliament” for 100 university students from the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The North American Forum on Integration, or NAFI, began is “Triumvirate” sessions Monday in Montreal’s City Hall with a plan to conclude Friday.
According to the NAFI website, “Triumvirate 2008” brings together the students “to participate in an international negotiation exercise in which they will simulate a parliamentary meeting between North American political actors.”
Participants are assigned to play one of three roles: a legislator, representing a country other than their own; a journalist; or a lobbyist.
Four themes were selected as subjects of the mock parliament’s debate: Fostering Renewable Electricity Markets (in English); Countering North American corporate outsourcing (in French); Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (in English); and NAFTA’s Chapter 11 on investments (in English).