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What is on young voters' minds ahead of the federal election? These students share their thoughts.
The NDP supporter
Mekaeel Malik is a 19-year-old student at McMaster University studying computer science.
If Canada keeps treating elections like a game between only two big parties, we’ll never get the change we actually need.
Growing up, I talked about politics a lot with my family, but as I got older, it started to feel pointless. I realized how easy it was to lose hope — especially when everything you see on the news makes you believe that nothing ever really changes. It made me step back for a while, but this election feels too important to ignore.
For me, the most urgent issue is Palestine. I’m Muslim, and seeing what’s happening in Gaza is devastating. It’s hard knowing that here in Canada, no matter who wins, most of us will be fine — but there are people around the world who don’t have that privilege. I want a leader who recognizes that our responsibilities go beyond our own borders.
Climate change is another issue young people can’t afford to ignore. We need real action — not just promises that get made and forgotten. That’s why even though I know the carbon tax isn’t perfect, getting rid of it completely would send the wrong message about how serious we are. We can’t flip our commitment to the climate on and off depending on what's convenient.
They say Canada doesn't vote in new people, we just vote out someone else. Mark Carney is voting out Justin Trudeau, but there is not actually that much of a change from the status quo. For me, I think that it isn't necessarily just a leader that we need for now, but a leader that can set the precedence we need for the future.
I hear all these arguments about why people can't vote for the NDP. I feel like a lot of these arguments are just based on the fact that there are only two big parties and there only ever will be two big parties. But, the NDP speaks to all of the issues that I care about the most. Their stance on Palestine is most definitely the most pro-Gaza out of all the major parties. Their stance on the carbon tax, the work that they've actually gotten done in Parliament so far, it all speaks to me the most.
A lot of people like Mark Carney because they think he's going to be the best to stand up to Trump. He won’t shake the boat too much, and keep Canada from changing too much. He's gonna be like an in-between. But for me, I don't think an in-between is the right choice for me. I think that the NDP represents a significant change that Canada might need in the upcoming future.
The Liberal supporter
Ali Kermali is a 16-year-old student in the Greater Toronto Area.
If the Conservatives win, Canada's democracy is at stake.
As a future voter, I’m worried. I canvass door-to-door in my riding and I can tell that people are (rightfully) thinking foremost about affordability. But we must also think bigger: Which leader will develop technologies like AI responsibly, protect our environment, and invest in renewable energy?
We need a leader who will stand up for Canada’s values, not kneel at the altar of President Donald Trump, as Mark Carney said during the English-language federal leaders' debate.
Last week, Pierre Poilievre said that he would use the notwithstanding clause to override Canada's judicial system — essentially bypassing constitutional protections — to pass legislation that’s unconstitutional and un-Canadian. It’s rhetoric similar to what Donald Trump is facing in the US. What’s next? Deporting Canadian citizens who speak out against him?
If Pierre Poilievre is elected, Canada could end up with the same bullying reputation America has. Our identity of being friendly, multicultural, and proud of our cultural mosaic will fade. Poilievre won’t build homes; he will prioritize the wealthiest 1% who don’t need taxpayer money.
For many teenagers, social justice issues are more pressing than the economy. In social media, blatant racism is rampant. But Canada is built by immigrants. When you hear comments like “I wish all the people working in Tim Hortons were deported” it's crucial to stand up for non-white students in general — not target them, but treat them better because of their differences.
Foreign policy also matters. Canada’s flag is already stained with the blood of Indigenous people from residential schools, and from supporting wars abroad like in Yemen and Gaza. We've acted admirably in Ukraine, opposing Putin’s dictatorship. But we must also oppose leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who now faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
AI has also led to a more toxic environment for politics. I could generate a picture in ten seconds of a rumour circulating right now of Jeffrey Epstein and Mark Carney together at Epstein's Island. It shows how crazy AI has become. The Liberal Party is taking steps to ban dangerous AI deep fakes, while the Conservative Party mirrors the US Republicans in using AI to spread fake, cruel memes. Billionaires like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and the CEO of TikTok are all guilty of election interference, manipulating algorithms to swing results.
We’re in grim times right now but there is a way to move forward productively. One of the most amazing things I’ve seen as a canvasser is the remarkable display of Canadian pride — flags on doors, garages, and everywhere. Since Trump threatened Canada’s sovereignty, Canadians are showing what it truly means to be Canadian.
Even when I meet people who disagree with me — including the Conservative voter who assumed I was an immigrant and said “You shouldn’t have been allowed to come here,” I appreciate hearing different perspectives. It shows that Canada is still a democracy at its finest, where we welcome different voices.
The Conservative supporter
Jaian Dhebar is an 18-year-old student in Thornhill, Ontario.
If we want young people like me to have a shot at a real future — owning a home, building a life — we can’t afford to stick with the status quo.
I’ve been hooked on politics since I was a kid. Learning through mock elections at school and long talks with my dad made it clear to me early on: leadership matters, but policies matter more. When I cast my vote for the very first time in this election on April 28, I know exactly who I am voting for — a government that will stop making life harder for hard-working Canadians.
Right now, affordability is a joke. Young people like me are staring down a future where buying a house feels impossible. Taxes are eating up too much of what people earn. Even my grandmother’s pension gets taxed heavily — after a lifetime of working for this country. That's not right. I’m voting Conservative because they’re the only party pushing real solutions: cutting taxes, building homes, and putting money back into Canadians’ pockets.
Sadly, I don’t think I’m going to be able to afford a house one day. I really do believe that. I think right now is a time for change. I think we need to give another party a chance to lead to see how we can get more houses built, or improve Canada's standing on the world stage.
We need a leader who’s tough enough to defend Canada’s interests on the global stage — someone who can stand toe-to-toe with strong personalities like Trump and be respected. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it made sense to have a leader who showed more compassion and could bring people together through tough times. But today, the challenges are different. Now, we need someone who’s firm, strong, and unafraid to stand up for Canada — not someone who backs down. I haven’t seen that kind of strength from the Liberal Party. Respect to Mark Carney and Jagmeet Singh, but at the end of the day, I’m voting for policies, not personalities.
Pierre Poilievre brings the kind of energy and determination we need. I see it when he speaks, and even small things, like how during the English-language leaders' debate, he was the only candidate with a Canadian flag behind him. He shows that Canadian pride matters to him. Other Conservative candidates like Melissa Lantsman also come from humble beginnings, and they connect with voters like me who want more than just empty promises.
Young voters are paying attention more than ever. We’re showing up. We’re speaking out. We’re voting and canvassing. I truly believe that once you vote once, it becomes a habit. That’s how real change starts - with us.