Student Voice in Action: Leo Takes a Stand for the Environment — Issue 6

We’re incredibly proud of Grade 7 student Leo Duggan ’31 for taking initiative and engaging with an issue that matters deeply to him. Leo recently visited the provincial legislature with his family and members of his community to support the reinstatement of the ban on uranium mining. His experience highlights how young people can explore their values, learn how government works, and see how they can have a powerful voice in shaping it. Below, Leo shares his reflections on the day and what it meant to speak up for something he believes in.

On Friday, Oct. 3, I went to the N.S. Legislature with my mom and some members of our community to see how it all works. We were invited by the leaders of the opposition to sit in the gallery and watch the uranium petitions be tabled. We got there early because we had to go through security and have our passes printed out. While we were waiting to be escorted upstairs, I got to meet and shake hands with MLA Lisa Lachance, who is NDP, and Derek Mombourquette, who is Liberal. Both were going to be presenting the huge stack of petitions that people in many communities across Nova Scotia had signed over the past four months. They both thought it was pretty cool that I was there, and Mr. Mombourquette told me he would like to chat with me anytime about politics. With over 7,000 signatures, it was one of the largest petitions to ever be presented in Nova Scotia!

While we were waiting to go upstairs, the premier of N.S., Tim Houston, came up behind us and asked why we were there. My mom told him it was because he lifted the ban on uranium mining that had been in place for over 40 years without consulting communities, that uranium mining was dangerous in a place like Nova Scotia, and we wanted the ban reinstated to keep our water safe and our health protected. I got to shake the premier’s hand, and even though he listened, he also said that uranium was a non-issue, that he doesn’t like bans, and so he wouldn’t be putting it back. It made me think about leadership and how, at my school, leadership is about being responsible, listening to others, and making decisions for the good of the whole, with integrity. I was disappointed with his response on the ban and wish he would acknowledge that uranium could really badly affect the future of our environment.

We were brought up to the third floor, which is called the gallery. You could look down and see all of the MLAs, and we were sitting over top of the Progressive Conservatives. It was insane how fast everything happens and how calm everyone is, even with the pressure they are under. There were 55 MLAs there—43 of them were PC, nine were NDP, two were Liberal, and there was one independent.

Lisa Lachance (NDP) called our names as her guests when they tabled the petitions, and both parties, Liberal Derek Mombourquette and NDP Lisa Lachance, read the petitions out loud while we were asked to stand for the whole introduction. It was a pretty cool experience to be part of. The rest of the morning, they tabled other petitions and debated for a bit during a question period. Then we went downstairs to meet Claudia Chender, the leader of the opposition (NDP). Derek Mombourquette, the Liberal interim leader, thanked me for being there and getting involved at such a young age and said we need more young people to get involved. He said he would come talk to my class anytime!

I hope that the premier puts the ban back in place, so we don’t have to worry about our water, our environment, and our health.”

— Leo Duggan ’31, Grade 7

 

We, the undersigned residents of Nova Scotia, call upon the Nova Scotia House of Assembly to act in the interest of public health, environmental integrity, and community safety by: