Delta North MLA Guy Gentner announced this week he will take money intended for his own raise and use it to establish the Guy Gentner Secondary School Orator Scholarship Contest.

In May of this year, NDP MLAs opposed the pay increase introduced by the Liberal government, claiming it was exorbitant and out of line with wage hikes for average British Columbians. The 33 NDP MLAs supported a new pension plan and agreed to donate the 29 per cent increase back to the community in their constituencies.
Gentner announced at the time he would donate his raise to the five secondary schools in his riding in the form of scholarships.

"The purpose of these scholarships is to encourage excellence in public speaking in our youth; to develop leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak articulately about topics that matter in society and to the community at large," he said.

"In public life debating skills and the ability to communicate are mediums that seem to be lost in our quick 'sound-bite' instant messaging age of e-mail and Facebook. These scholarships will engage students in public speaking and assist those to excel that have an oratorical talent."

Gentner said the scholarships are intended to get North Delta students involved and experience firsthand the value of communicating verbally, particularly on issues that may directly impact their lives.

"We have no lack of important challenges that we need to confront in our world today and tomorrow, including child poverty, global warming and advancing important causes," Gentner said.

"Who will be our voice in the future, someone who can inspire the next generation? I ask you, who will be the next Winston Churchill, Tommy Douglas, Grace MacInnes, W.A.C. Bennett, Moe Sihota or Barrack Obama? We need to start that mentoring process now."

Gentner is working with the Delta school district regarding the delivery of the scholarships.