Students urged to engage politically

OTTAWA — Canada’s young voters were urged by political leaders Tuesday to get beyond their frustration with the political system and become personally involved in the democratic process.

At the very least, they should do one thing: cast a ballot in the next federal election, scheduled for Oct. 19, 2015.

The message came at a rare gathering of leaders at an event sponsored by the University of Ottawa with hundreds of students.

On hand were NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and Green Leader Elizabeth May. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was unable to attend because he is travelling in Europe, so Conservative MP Michael Chong represented his party.

“This country needs its young people fully engaged in the political process,” University of Ottawa president Allan Rock, a former Liberal MP, said in introductory remarks. “Canadians need you to vote.”

The urgency to fix the problem is highlighted by numbers that pollster Nik Nanos presented to the audience.

Nanos reported that voter turnout for people aged 18-24 was just 38.8 per cent in the last federal election. By comparison, for those aged 65-74, it was an estimated 75.1 per cent.

Mulcair said the message he constantly spreads on university campuses is clear: “You can make a difference.”

Trudeau said young people are not cynical — just frustrated.

“You’re not being given the power to shape the world you are going to inherit. We need to draw you in and engage with you.”

May told young Canadians not to wait for the next election.

“Engage now,” she said, adding that the country is now governed by “King Stephen,” but there is still time to strengthen democracy. “I don’t want King Justin or King Thomas either.”

Chong said that governments “of all political stripes” have not done enough to combat climate change. If young people want to change that, he said, they must vote.

“If you don’t vote, if you don’t participate, you don’t have a voice.”

Nanos said polling shows that while people over 60 tend to rank health care and jobs as important issues, younger people are more likely to say the environment and education are priorities and they are “confident” that change can occur in those areas.