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Blog of Adam Daifallah -- author, journalist, law student. Lover of politics, writing, golf, curling, fitness, fashion, bacon and maple products -- not necessarily (but probably) in that order. Partisan of the Anglosphere. Contact me via email at adam@daifallah.com. This summer I am joined by Keir Wilmut and Omar Soliman.
Monday, June 20, 2005
As Prime Minister, RIP
Magna International Inc. has unveiled a major overhaul of its well-known As Prime Minister awards essay contest. New name, new format, new everything. It has been renamed The Next Great Prime Minister. Henceforth it is no longer even an essay contest. It is an hour-long TV special. And far fewer people will be participating in the program each year.
Old format: Contestants would write a 2,500 word essay outlining a vision for a better Canada. The top 50 were flown to Toronto for a weekend semi-final competition, where they had to present their ideas to a panel of judges. A Top 10 were chosen, each of which won $10,000, an all-expenses-paid 4-day finalist ceremony with their families in Ottawa, and a summer internship at Magna. A national winner got $10,000 more and a year-long internship. The 10 essays were published in a book by Magna.
New format: Aspirants must submit a 3-5 minute videotape saying why they want to be Prime Minister. Five people will be selected to do a one-hour TV special on Global. The winner will get $50,000 and a six-month internship at Magna. The other four will get $10,000 and a shorter internship. Anyone from the ages of 18-29 can enter. (You used to have to be a full-time student to participate.)
As an alumnus of the old program I have mixed feelings about the change and what I consider the "dumbing down" of the process. The old format was one of the only outlets I know of where young Canadians serious about public policy could express their views, win compensation for it and get published.
It was also one of the only forums -- indeed, maybe the only forum -- that gave a real voice to Canadian youth who do not fit into the soft-left liberal mould our elites try to force us into. The As Prime Minister awards rewarded Canadian youth from across the political spectrum.
The old program's semifinals -- where 50 students gathered for a weekend in Toronto to talk politics and exchange views -- was fun, intellectually stimulating, enriching, and for some, a life-changing experience. (Full disclosure: I met my girlfriend, several good friends, many acquaintances and indeed many of the people who frequently comment on this site through the program.)
So this change is sort of sad. It is the end of a great thing; something I felt was important for Canada and political discourse between young Canadians.
But I understand that after 10 years of essays the program may have run its course. (Essay submissions were going down each year.) I also understand that Magna may have been growing tired of spending that much money each year on the contest and wanted to do something less expensive. It must have cost more than a $1-million to fly in 50 kids for a weekend in Toronto with all expenses paid, plus the 10 finalists and their families to Ottawa an all-expenses-paid trip, plus all the prize money and internships.
Anyway, we'll see how this new TV thing works out. So long As Prime Minister.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 9:28 PM
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