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Elmwood School Grade 5 students interview Right Honourable Joe Clark

Students learn about government during visit to Parliament

Ottawa, September 30, 2008 – Elmwood School Grade 5 students were fortunate enough to sit down with Former Canadian Prime Minister, the Rt. Honourable Joe Clark during a recent visit to Parliament.

The Grade 5 class recently completed the International Baccalaureate PYP Unit called “Decisions, Decisions.” One aspect of this Unit involves the students in researching the process of decision making at all three levels of government—federal, provincial and municipal.

The students started their visit to Parliament with a tour, and learned how a bill becomes a law in Canada. Then, during a 45-minute interview with Mr. Clark, the girls learned about the decisions he made as Prime Minister, as well as the responsibilities of the office he held.

Montreal Gazette journalist, Elizabeth Thompson, who was also there giving girls an insider’s tour, was impressed by the girls’ grasp of complex issues:

"The girls were amazing. For 45 minutes they peppered Mr. Clark with intelligent, probing questions that showed how much they have learned about governments and decision making. Mr. Clark was incredibly generous with his time, patient and treated every question seriously, giving the girls the kind of insight into what it is like to be a prime minister and a foreign affairs minister that few Canadians ever get."