Young Canadians Turn Away from Politics, Warns Former Minister

OTTAWA – A growing reluctance among young Canadians to pursue careers in politics has raised concerns among former officials. Sergio Marchi, a former Liberal cabinet minister, has observed that only a handful of students in his university course express interest in public life. “When I ask how many want to pursue a career in politics, I am surprised if two or three hands go up,” he stated. Marchi, who served as Minister for International Trade from 1997 to 1999, believes this trend could have significant implications for the future of Canadian governance.

Marchi’s insights come as he promotes his new book, Pursuing a Public Life, which recounts his political journey and aims to inspire the next generation to engage in federal politics. He emphasizes the importance of diverse representation, noting, “We can’t have our politicians be just white old men. We need the energy and the idealism of the youngsters.”

Concerns about the political landscape are echoed in a recent study on youth representation in Canadian politics authored by academics from Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. The paper highlights a troubling under-representation of young people in parliaments worldwide, asserting that this is primarily due to their absence in the candidate pool. The authors argue that political parties often struggle to find young candidates or underestimate their electoral potential, leading to fewer nominations.

Young Canadian politician Jake Sawatzky, who was elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament for New Westminster—Burnaby—Maillardville in the 2025 federal election, shares the sentiment that many young individuals perceive the political system as unwelcoming. “Many younger people think the system isn’t built for them,” he remarked. Sawatzky hopes that the recent election of younger representatives will motivate others to consider political involvement.

The study from Carleton and Ottawa universities indicates that systemic barriers hinder youth participation in politics. Daniel Stockemer, a professor of politics at the University of Ottawa and co-author of the study, identifies incumbency as a significant challenge. “Youth representation in Canadian politics hasn’t increased over the past 50 years,” he noted, underscoring the difficulties young candidates face in gaining a foothold in a competitive landscape.

Jaden Braves, CEO of Young Politicians of Canada, points to the education system’s role in political apathy. “Young people aren’t encouraged in Canada to pursue a life in the public sector,” he said, advocating for increased civic literacy in schools. He believes that young individuals often feel dissuaded from running for office due to the stigma and hostility associated with political life.

Marchi recognizes that the current political climate may deter young people from entering the field. “Clearly they’re put off with the calibre of our political culture,” he stated, citing concerns over invasiveness and the toxic nature of political discourse. He believes that change must originate from current elected officials, who need to improve the tone and substance of political engagement to attract younger generations.

The implications of this trend are significant. Marchi warns that the disengagement of youth from politics could lead to a future in which their voices are absent from critical governance discussions. “Many people are giving politics a pass,” he said. “While AI is here and robots will do a lot of things, I’m hoping robots won’t run a country.”

As young Canadians navigate their relationship with politics, the call for greater involvement and representation remains urgent. The insights shared by Marchi, Sawatzky, and Braves highlight the need for systemic change to ensure that future generations have a meaningful role in shaping their governance. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 11, 2025.