An Ottawa MP is drawing fire for offering teenagers a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship if they write an essay — and collect 25 signatures on a petition to raise the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16.

Some students and a professor who studies democracy and education said the deal makes them uncomfortable.

Pierre Poilievre, Conservative MP for Nepean-Carleton, said he wants to raise awareness about teenage sex and that is why he is offering $1,000 for the best 500-word essay by a student in his riding on how to protect children from internet luring by adult predators.

The deadline is Dec. 1 and entries will be judged by two police constables.

The contest includes a requirement that students collect 25 signatures for his petition to pressure the Senate to pass bill C-22, which raises the age of consent to sexual activity by two years to 16. That would make sex with a 14- or 15-year-old illegal for anyone more than five years older (it has an exception for people who are closer in age) and is intended to protect young people from adult sexual predators.

Poilievre's office hasn't received any complaints about the requirement that students also collect 25 signatures for his petition, he told CBC News on Wednesday.

"I don't see the concern," he said. "Any tool you can use to encourage young people to build their minds, to participate in the democratic process and put their thoughts on paper in written word is a good thing."

But some students on their way to morning classes at Sir Robert Borden School on Wednesday said that while they agree with raising the age of consent, they don't think they should have to collect signatures for a petition to qualify for a scholarship.

"It certainly doesn't make students feel more comfortable about the pressures from the government," said a student named Joe. "It's almost like if you want our help, you need to share our opinions type of deal."

Another student named Daphne said she thinks Poilievre should get his own signatures and had her own ideas about the motivation behind the contest.

"It's actually just a cheap way to get you to do it for him."

Prof. Joel Westheimer, who holds a research chair in democracy and education at the University of Ottawa, shares those concerns.

"He is tainting the process by which kids learns to be politically engaged," Westheimer said.

"He's basically giving them the message that … your political opinions aren't important, because here you can get $1,000 for just supporting my position. And kids are not stupid. I mean, they see through this kind of campaign."