Representatives from Canada’s four major political parties gathered March 25 at the University of Ottawa for a debate in an effort to engage youth participation in politics.
Politicians at the forum included Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, and Conservative MP Michael Chong.
The packed event was put on by I vote/Je vote, a campaign that targets those between the ages of 18 and 26, especially university undergraduates, to become more engaged politically.
The event’s organizer Lorne Powell said the Ottawa debate would kick off a national campaign.
Just 39 per cent of Canadians under 24 voted in the last federal election, according to Nik Nanos, a public opinion pollster who spoke prior to the debate. He said while jobs and health care are important to young Canadians, the most important thing that needs to be addressed is a “public policy dialogue.”
Nanos pointed out that if more youth had voted, Harper might not have won his majority government.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May was the most outspoken leader on the panel.
“I realized that every single thing I had ever worked for . . . was going to be at risk,” May said of Harper’s majority. “I knew he would never change from his resolve to never do anything for the climate.”
Conservative leader Michael Chong agreed with May throughout the event on issues such as the environment.
“Governments . . . have not done enough to combat climate change,” he said, before returning to the subject of youth voters. “If you want to see greater action on this issue . . . you need to get out and vote.”
May said today’s version of politics discourages potential younger voters.
“Canadians look at politics and increasingly think, ‘that looks disgusting’,” she said.
Trudeau said transparency would be the key to re-inspiring youth’s confidence in the Canadian political process.
“We need to listen to them in politics,” he said.
Mulcair said his party has youth leaders working in schools to encourage voting, and to spread the message that diversity is what strengthens the youth vote, rather than divides it.
“You can contribute to a positive change,” he told the crowd.
The panel also discussed the use of evidence in federal decision-making.
“Decision-based evidence-making is eclipsing evidence-based decision-making,” May said.
Trudeau said he agreed with May, referencing the Harper government’s elimination of the long-form census.
“Ideologies get you stuck,” Trudeau said. “We need to know where our priorities are. The four of us are here . . . to draw you in for the sake of our entire country.”
