Transcript - CBC

John Dalusong: What is the Civic Clarity Foundation?

Rehan Mazid: We are a nonpartisan, youth-led think tank. We focus on governmental transparency, accountability, and the role of youth in our democracy.

John Dalusong: Why did you decide to start this?

Rehan Mazid: Well, I decided to start this because of a quote by a French historian, Jules Michelet. He says the first part of politics is education, the second is education, and the third is education. I believe that if you apply this education and understand civics, you can then challenge and properly hold your elected officials accountable.

John Dalusong: Why was it important to involve politicians in this panel?

Rehan Mazid: It's important to involve politicians in youth mental health because they're the ones that hold the real keys to change in our country, our province, and our region. So if we have their support and their understanding, and if we hold them accountable properly, then we can get real results delivered in the region, the province, and more broadly, the country.

John Dalusong: So in this afternoon's event, what specific topics are you hoping to discuss with the politicians?

Rehan Mazid: We're hoping to bring up the dissolution of the dedicated Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, wait times across Ontario and more broadly Canada, and the link between youth homelessness and youth mental health.