For this special feature, we surveyed, over 2 weeks, younger Canadians on their voting intentions and gathered their views on key federal political issues and their relationship with politics.
Our Four Observations
Young Canadians Want Change, but They Need to Be Heard First
They care. They’re paying attention. But they don’t feel politics is listening. Whether it’s housing, mental health, or the climate crisis, young people are demanding action, not promises. They’re not disengaged; they’re disillusioned. And they’re waiting to be taken seriously.
Affordability Is the Frontline Issue
From rent to groceries to student loans, young people are under serious financial pressure. Housing and inflation aren’t just talking points; they shape how this generation sees its future. For many, the economic system feels rigged against them.
Women Are Leading the Way, but Carrying More Doubt
Young women are showing the strongest commitment to voting even though many still doubt their political knowledge. With women’s rights being challenged just beyond our borders, they’re stepping up to protect their future and their freedoms. Voting is one of the few tools they have and they’re using it. They’re showing up with purpose, voting based on values, and pushing for change.
Young Men: Decided, Confident, but Often Disengaged
Many young men are checked out, feeling excluded from political discourse, feeling that politics doesn’t speak to them or doesn’t matter at all. They’re more likely to feel shut out, skeptical, or turned off by the process, but are focused on practical outcomes and tend to vote based on tangible concerns like jobs, taxes, economic control.
Methodology
The results for this wave of research are based on online research conducted from April 4 to April 6, 2025 , and April 10 to 13, 2025, with a representative sample of 1,187 Canadian adults 18 years of age and older from Leger’s LEO panel.
The data was statistically weighted according to 2021 Canadian Census figures.
A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey, but for comparison purposes, a probability sample of 1,187 would have a margin of error of +/- 2.8%, 19 times out of 20.
