Young voters say housing affordability, minimum wage, cost of living are key election issues

Political parties are failing to connect with young Ontarians in this provincial election, an expert says. 

"I think there's a gap here," Myer Siemiatycki, a professor emeritus of politics at Toronto Metropolitan University, said on Saturday. "There's a voting gap and a voice gap that I think really needs to be improved."

With the Ontario election around the corner, voters under 29 say they want politicians to address issues important to them, such as housing affordability, minimum wage and the rising cost of living.

Siemiatycki said now more than ever, political parties need to do a better job at speaking to youth directly and about issues that matter the most to them.

"We know from the most recent census release that Canadians under 29 are an increasingly large portion of the overall population," he said.

"If political parties are not very explicitly messaging and reaching out to those constituencies, they are missing a large potential base of voters."

Brian Solomonian, a Toronto chef, said affordability in the city is a huge election issue for him, especially because the COVID-19 pandemic has left many people unemployed.

"I think it's taking a toll on a lot of people, myself included," Solomonian said.

"I have a personal chef business, so food costs are huge for me and rising cost of living … that's going to affect me the most, I think."

Mahfam Nikoo, a Toronto resident, said the cost of schooling and cost of living are the issues top of mind this election.

"A lot of people my age, I think, are struggling keeping up with multiple jobs just to pay rent and pay off tuition debts," Nikoo said.

Added Siemiatycki: "It's harder to start adult lives now than it has been for a long time."

Future Majority, a national non-partisan organization, is focused on encouraging young people to vote and have their voices heard this election.

"I think there are a lot of issues this election that young people want to have their voices heard on," Camellia Wong, a communications director with Future Majority, said on Saturday.