Committees
General Assembly
The Arctic Fighting over Water
For centuries explorers have attempted to conquer the trackless cold wastes of the Arctic with no success. Multiple expeditions were staged to find a faster way to Asia (Cathay as it was referred to then) from Europe through the famous Northwest Passage to no avail, dying in the process. Later, with the development of technology and knowledge of the seas, it was conquered and questions were asked of its scientific significance prompting research of the land and later development. Through war, peace-time, and at multiple points within the 20th century a nuclear wasteland, the Arctic has proven to be a bastion of peace in a world that continues to destabilize. With the discovery of a massive abundance of natural resources in the 20th century and new access to them due to climate change in the 21st century, that peace could be in jeopardy. The Arctic nations continue to quarrel over which part of the Arctic is theirs and the resources along with it. The Arctic Council, powerless and withdrawn, cannot do more than try and set an example - this has not worked. With the continued failure of the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas failing to yield results on disputes, the WTO is a last resort in a way. Within this committee delegates will debate and propose resolutions to the issues surrounding territorial disputes in the Arctic sea and the new shipping routes opening due to climate change. In addition, delegates will also debate the rights and implications of nations to extract natural resources within the region.
Please note that Position Papers are required to be eligible for awards in this committee.
Specialized Agency
House of Commons
Canadian Parliament is an iteration of the United Kingdom’s Parliament otherwise known as Westminster. With 800+ years of legislative history and precedence, and a 157 year existence, Canadian Parliament is one of the most revered political institutions in the world. A well oiled machine made for creating and amending laws, providing representation to all 40 million Canadians, and maintaining a service with the utmost respect, integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards of any other institution in this country. In 157 years of government, it has seen all kinds of changes and has undergone stress but has never broken.
It is March of 2024. The last federal election was in September of 2021 and the Liberals currently have a minority government with support from the New Democrats in a “Supply in confidence agreement”. The Conservative Party remains the Official Opposition gunning for a chance to govern, and the Bloc Quebecois continues to advocate for issues most important to Quebec. March marks the end of the financial period for the government and a new budget is necessary for its continued operation. With the Conservatives ahead by 18 percent in the polls the Liberals need to gain some ground, the budget is the perfect opportunity to do so. However, if the Liberals cannot satisfy the NDP, their “Supply in confidence” partners, the NDP might pull the plug and force the Liberals to call an election by voting against the budget. An election for the Liberals with these numbers could very well end up relegating the party to third place, and boosting the Conservatives into government for the first time in 10 years with their biggest victory since Mulroney. It’s up to you to work together with your Parliamentary colleagues and put forward a budget that satisfies all the parties in the chamber, but most importantly, a budget that works well for Canadians during these economically and socially turbulent times for the country.
*Delegates will be assigned a position in the 44th parliament as it was in March 2024 and will be representing their positions AS THEMSELVES. For example, the Prime Minister will be the delegate assigned to that position, not Justin Trudeau. However, policy positions taken by the parties are expected to be represented. Please note that due to the size of the House of Commons compared to the size constraints of this committee, the Green Party (GPC) will not be available for representation by the delegates. However, the GPC will still be recognized in the chamber.
Please note that Position Papers are required to be eligible for awards in this committee.
The Sahel Region:
The New Terrorist Capital of The World
Crisis
In between the lush jungles of the south and the arid desert of the north, the Sahel region long ago famed for its wealth and innovative culture has now fallen into a steep decline. The Sahel today due to numerous factors are filled with states which are very much on the edge of collapse. In order to save this region from falling into complete anarchy, delegates will need to deal with a wide range of issues such as terrorism, climate change, and corruption. While dealing with these issues delegates will also need to watch their backs as the weak governments and institutions of the Sahel combined with the region's high poverty rate serve as fertile grounds for coups, civil unrest, and terrorism. All which can undermine any grand agenda the committee might have. Whether this committee can lead the Sahel back to a path of peace and prosperity or if life in the Sahel is doomed to remain nasty, brutish, and short will depend on the abilities of the committee.
Please note that Position Papers are NOT required to be eligible for awards in this committee.
