Canadian House of Commons (CHC)

About the Committee:

The elections of 1963 in Canada have brought the nation to a crossroads. The Liberals have managed to secure power in the House of Commons after six years of the Progressive Conservatives having control, promising a series of broad domestic reforms. Without an outright majority in Parliament, the Liberals lack the ability to enact these reforms on their own. Compromise between Canada’s two main parties as well as with the upstart Social Credit and New Democratic parties will be crucial to any reforms passed. The main domestic reforms the House of Commons will focus on are the presence of American missiles on Canadian soil, and plans for universal health care. Another topic the House will contend with is the growing rise of Quebec nationalism. In recent years, the French-speaking province has undergone drastic societal changes that have invigorated calls for its sovereignty. While some in the government have called for reconciliation among Anglo and French Canadians, many Canadian citizens may be unwilling to negotiate. With violent clashes and terrorist attacks underway, whether this issue will be resolved before further tensions escalate remains to be seen.

A LETTER FROM THE DaiS:

Hello Delegates!

My name is Sebastian Padilla, and I am excited to serve as the director of On Thin Ice: Canadian House of Commons 1963 this year. This committee will take a look at the issues facing Canada during the 1960s, including important domestic reforms and Quebec sovereignty. With a divided House of Commons and a no party holding a majority, compromise will prove necessary to keep the nation afloat. I am a junior at the University of Michigan College of Engineering studying Industrial and Operations Engineering with a minor in political science. I have been involved in MUNUM for three years, and I previously served as an assistant director for the Gulf Cooperation Council. Outside of MUNUM, I am involved in the Michigan Board Games and Cards Club. In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching old news footage and baseball, going on walks, taking public transit, and playing a video game every so often. This is my first year as a director and I am very excited to work with you all. I hope you all enjoy this committee and I can’t wait to see what you all can come up with!

Best,

Sebastian Padilla: sebastp@umich.edu