Transcript - Mike Farwell Show

Mike Farwell: So, Rehan, let's get into the foundation that you started, the Civic Clarity Foundation. What is it? How did this all get started?

Rehan Mazid: Well, the Civic Clarity Foundation, to give a brief rundown, is a nonpartisan, youth-focused think tank, and we're established on the foundational principles of governmental transparency, accountability, and the meaningful inclusion of all of the stakeholders in a democracy, including youth. And we know that it can sound like a bit of a juxtaposition: youth-focused and a think tank. It doesn't really match. But the reason why we founded it is because we saw that the most important conversations surrounding our future were happening without us in the room, without us present as stakeholders. So we decided we need to step in and fill the vacuum.

Mike Farwell: So take us back if you could, Rehan, to the end of August, the 29th to be exact, when you held a panel here in the region. What was that panel all about, and who was around that table?

Rehan Mazid: Thank you. That panel, "Youth Mental Health and the Role of Good Governance," was held in response to the escalating youth mental health crisis in the region of Waterloo, Ontario, and Canada. We decided we need to look at it through a policy-based lens and see what our legislators can do for us, and we had this entire discussion facilitated and led by youth. I was the moderator for that panel. We had two Conservative MPs who were recently elected; we had longstanding Waterloo Liberal MP and former Minister of Youth Bardish Chagger; we had MPP Aislinn Clancy; we had Regional Councillor Colleen James; and we had student trustee Kinjal Kaur, who is also a director at our foundation, present for a credible, authentic, boots-on-the-ground youth voice.

Mike Farwell: The Senate in Canada is currently looking at Bill S-212, which is a national youth strategy bill. And I know that the Civic Clarity Foundation has submitted a brief on that. What do you see in the bill that might need some tweaking?

Rehan Mazid: Well, to start with our first pillar, section (4)(2)(f), it says that the strategy must propose mechanisms that, if implemented, would allow for ongoing consultation with youth. It's a bit of a, as other organizations have noted, permissive language trap; the words, "if implemented," make ongoing youth consultation an option, and it tokenizes the role of youth consultation where it should be necessary. In response to that, the Civic Clarity Foundation in our brief outlined genuine accountability as a need. That's why we ask that the bill require permanent, resourced youth advisory committees as a core mechanism to ensure ongoing consultation and oversight. That is mandated by Bill S-212.

Mike Farwell: What is the youth strategy bill intending to do?

Rehan Mazid: At its core, Bill S-212 is about moving from talk to action on youth well-being. It's framework legislation. That means it's creating a skeleton, and it's not creating any specific program, but it's rather putting a legal requirement on the federal government. It's putting the onus on the federal government to develop, table in Parliament, and publicly report on a national strategy for children and youth. It's really about creating a system of accountability where there currently isn't one. The Civic Clarity Foundation is always behind accountability.

Mike Farwell: So are there other examples in the world, Rehan, where youth strategy bills have been effective?

Rehan Mazid: Not necessarily a youth strategy bill. However, other countries follow best practices, as we recommend in our bill, and do have a national youth commissioner or an ombudsman for children and youth. In Norway, New Zealand, and Sweden, they have a long link between an independent commissioner and measurable improvements in children's well-being. New Zealand's commissioner, for example, led a campaign that resulted in cross-partisan support for the Child Poverty Reduction Act. That was just in 2022. Canada remains one of the few wealthy nations without this proven mechanism for accountability and oversight, even though we are a signatory on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Mike Farwell: You are a member of this demographic in our community, obviously, a 15-year-old youth. What are you seeing when it comes to the well-being of you and your peers?

Rehan Mazid: What I've been seeing with children and youth in the community is a real sense of stress and worry. We're worried that we'll never be able to own homes, have a family, or even hold steady jobs if the government does not develop a steady strategy for children and youth. This stress and anxiety is only going to continue to grow. And with the escalating mental health crisis that we've already talked about, it's just going to get even worse for youth in Canada.

Mike Farwell: How does the Civic Clarity Foundation intend to work with the Senate Committee to pass Bill S-212? How can you be a partner in that work?

Rehan Mazid: Well, the Civic Clarity Foundation has laid out our recommendations that come from our panel on youth mental health and the role of good governance. We have committed that we will work with our executive board and our board of directors in any way to advocate for more change, get petitions going, get more attention on this matter, and drive forward real change. We've also talked to several members of Parliament surrounding this bill and urged them to champion this bill when it reaches the House of Commons.

Mike Farwell: I have to say, Rehan, I've been incredibly impressed with the brief that you put together for the Senate Standing Committee and the way that you have written your emails and made your pitches, if you will, about the work that you're doing. And I'm curious as somebody who is your age, 15, where does this come from? Where does this desire to stand up on behalf of your peers come from?

Rehan Mazid: Well, it's not a—it's not a one-man job, I'd say. I'm supported by a great team. I'm standing on the shoulders of giants as well. This desire for change, it's not just mine. It's of every single person that volunteers with the Civic Clarity Foundation. It's every single person that's a board member of the Civic Clarity Foundation. It's everyone that attends our panels, goes to our workshops, and helps support the work that we do. What I'm doing is I'm merely the spokesperson for a whole demographic. We want change, and we want it soon.

Mike Farwell: Are you going to run for politics someday?

Rehan Mazid: Well, that can be considered.

[Laughter]

Mike Farwell: You've got a whole lifetime in front of you, and I think plenty of options based on the work you're already doing with the Civic Clarity Foundation. Rehan, thank you very much for joining our show today. I really appreciate it.

Rehan Mazid: Thank you for having me.

Mike Farwell: Rehan Mazid is the founder and executive director of the Civic Clarity Foundation.