Unbothered or Unheard?

Historically, federal voter turnout has faced a declining trend in Canada, with young voters (aged 18-24) contributing significantly to this pattern. However, for many reasons, this past federal election was different. There was a significant uptick in federal voter turnout, and, by association, an increase in youth participation. Youth in Canada have been unmotivated to vote in federal elections for a myriad of reasons, the leading of which is under-representation and a lack of commitment by elected officials to meaningfully engage youth in their communities. It is also important to note that this lack of youth inclusion is often mischaracterized as apathy but that conclusion overlooks deeper systemic issues. 

Low youth voter turnout is not a sign of laziness. If young people don’t see policies that reflect their realities (job precarity, tuition debt, housing affordability) then their disconnection isn’t disinterest; it’s a response to inequity. To understand this dynamic better, we need to look at historical trends in youth voting. 

Critics often say that young people do not care about politics because they vote less than older people. But this isn’t the full picture. Research from Elections Canada shows that youth participation dropped sharply in the 1990s and hit a new low in 2008. However, these numbers do not reflect laziness or indifference; they reflect disillusionment. Young people often feel ignored by politicians and are under the impression that their votes will not lead to real change. They are politically aware but often feel that formal politics does not reflect their values and concerns. Now that we have identified the systemic nature of disengagement, we can begin to address it, and re-engage youth meaningfully. 

Because youth are often unable to see how policies and promises affect their everyday lives, initiatives and programs can be put in place to clarify this connection so they can clearly see the bridge between the two. For example, investing more in youth representation on municipal committees, and providing additional platforms for youth to make real changes in their neighborhoods and communities, can help make this link more visible and meaningful.

Youth committees are nothing new - nearly all municipalities as well as political parties offer youth a seat at the table; however, as evident based on the perception of youth clearly, the chair may be in the room, but not at the roundtable. With that said, improvements can be made to make youth representation and committees at varying levels of government more innovative and impactful. For example, there could be active collaboration between elected officials and youth representatives on programs and projects of interest to youth by allowing young people to bring forward initiatives and be active partners throughout the policymaking process.

Written By:

Muhammed Mustjaab, Policy Strategist, Engage

Crystal Agunbiade, Policy Strategist, Engage