Image: Council of Canadians

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An eleventh-hour message to voters aged 18–30: in this election, you’ve got the power.

 

 

There are more young people (18–30) in Canada in 2015 (6.33 million) than people aged 65+ (5.78 million). Your involvement in politics could change the future of Canada.

The problem is, 18-to-30 year-olds vote like they’re almost 90. Not even half of you make it to the ballot box. Compare that to Canada’s seniors (65+), about three-quarters of whom vote. Why let them set the political agenda?

It would be so easy to make your mark. There were more non-voters than voters in the last (2011) federal election. Most of them were…you! What do you think this chart would look like if three-quarters of 18-to-30-year olds voted?

 

 

Take 20 minutes out of your day, go vote.

 

Armine Yalnizyan is a senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and business columnist for CBC Radio’s Metro Morning. You can follow her on Twitter @ArmineYalnizyan.

 

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Armine Yalnizyan

Economist Armine Yalnizyan is the Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers.