Quebec youth ‘don’t feel seen’ by political parties ahead of next month’s election

Affording rent, groceries and having access to a doctor are all on the minds of young voters as Quebec’s election campaign enters its eighth day.

But with young people historically less likely to vote than older ones, the question is whether the province’s political parties can connect with them.

“The reason that I’m not really into politics is because I don’t feel seen,” said UQAM student Amy Giraldeau.

“It’s always the same: i’s the politicians talking and talking but they’re not doing anything,” added Sofia Campeau, a student at McGill University.

“I think that their priorities are perhaps not in the right place for my values,” said Lia Desiderato, who studies at CÉGEP Marie-Victorin.

Voter turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds was just over 50 per cent in both of Quebec’s last two elections. It’s something experts say has more to do with trust than apathy.

“These motivational barriers include not necessarily trusting that political parties or politicians have their best interest,” said Erika De Torres of Apathy Is Boring.

De Torres, the group’s director of impact and development, says while young people are passionate about solving issues like the rising cost of living, they’re frustrated with politics.

“It’s really a matter of whether or not the politicians or political parties make an effort to actually show up to where young people are at.”

The organization Interjeunes Coalition has launched a province-wide youth mobilization campaign amid the election.

“It’s not just to make them interested in politics, but also to make it so that young people are unavoidable for politicians, or it’s really embarrassing not to talk to them,” said Annick Daigneault, the group’s mobilization, communication and events coordinator.

Affordability, trade war

The economic uncertainty caused by the ongoing U.S. trade war is already a focal point of the Quebec election. The young people who spoke to CityNews shared their concerns with the rising cost of life and homes.

“We’re just trying to live and it’s really hard. Everything is just so expensive,” Giraldeau said.

“If you’re looking at different options, most of them are really attacking immigration and stuff like that. I don’t think that’s necessarily the solution to the housing crisis,” said McGill student Elliot Lord.

“I don’t have a family doctor right now,” added Campeau. “If you don’t have the funds to pay and go to private, it is extremely expensive. It’s not something we should be paying for.”

Political analyst Daniel Tran says this time around, affordability won’t simply be a youth issue, meaning parties can have a direct line to young people while also appealing to all voters at the same time.

“When you are addressing cost of living, you are also de facto hinting that you are helping the young people as well,” Tran said.

Though Tran also says parties will have to walk the tightrope between businesses looking to automate entry-level jobs and young people looking to get them – especially with the rise of AI.

“A lot of these jobs that we’re looking at are entry-level jobs where students come and get out from universities,” said Tran.

“It is going to (have) also an impact on these jobs, too.”