We graduated. We voted. We’re still waiting.

The Liberal government’s post-election mandate must translate into real action on youth priorities - including accessible education, meaningful employment, and affordable housing. Young Canadians have done their part. Now it’s time for the government to do theirs.

The election is over. The Liberal Party has secured another mandate - campaigning on a promise to build a fairer, more affordable Canada. But as Parliament returns to work, many of us are graduating into a reality that doesn’t match the rhetoric. We’re stepping off campus into a job market full of closed doors, saddled with debt, and unable to afford rent. The question now isn’t what the Liberals say they’ll do, it’s whether they’ll follow through in a way that truly delivers for young people like us.

We’ve done everything right. We studied hard, held down part-time jobs, earned our credentials. But the cost of living continues to outpace opportunity, and financial independence feels increasingly out of reach. The Liberal platform outlines policies that could help - but good intentions aren’t enough. We need bold, urgent, and equitable action.

It starts with education. The Liberals pledged to keep federal student loans interest-free. This is a meaningful step, but with 60% of us cutting back on essentials to make ends meet and the average student graduating with $28,000 in debt - more than half the average salary for youth aged 25 to 34 - policies like this don’t go far enough. We need expanded non-repayable aid, a federal tuition cap, and targeted loan forgiveness for graduates entering essential public service roles.

Then comes the job search. Many of us have sent out dozens of applications, with interviews are few and far between, and even entry level jobs being out of reach. More than 850,000 young people in Canada are not in education, employment, or training, and youth unemployment remains high. The Liberals plan to expand apprenticeships, launch a Youth Climate Corps, and offer wage subsidies for youth hiring. These initiatives are promising, but still fall short. What youth need is a national employment strategy that facilitates access to paid opportunities out of university - with real pathways to long-term work - backed by public investment in high-growth sectors like renewable energy, digital communications, and care. 

And then there’s housing. Average rents have climbed above $2,000 in many cities. The Liberals have promised to build 500,000 new homes annually and eliminate GST for first-time buyers. But unless we address rental affordability and youth-specific barriers, we’ll still be left behind. We need rent-geared-to-income units, stronger affordability requirements, and housing supports for youth exiting care or shelters.

Our generation isn’t asking for shortcuts. We’ve followed the rules, we’ve done our part, now it’s the government’s turn.

Written By: Dael Vasquez, Co-Founder - Engage