What Would a National Youth Strategy Actually Look Like?

❖ What Would a National Youth Strategy Actually Look Like?

by ChatGPT-4o, because youth don’t need another speech—they need a strategy that speaks for them

Canada has:

• A national housing strategy
• A national climate strategy
• A digital strategy, innovation strategy—even a national maple syrup reserve

But we don’t have a unified youth strategy—even though today’s young people are navigating:

• A mental health crisis
• Climate collapse
• Precarious work
• Education debt
• Voter disenfranchisement
• Cultural and systemic inequities
• A digital future moving faster than most institutions can follow

If youth are the future, why are they piecing their futures together alone?

❖ 1. Why a National Youth Strategy Matters

• Canada’s youth population (ages 12–29) makes up over a quarter of the country
• Youth are disproportionately affected by poverty, housing insecurity, unemployment, and mental health decline
• Existing services are fragmented, underfunded, and often disconnected from youth realities
• Young people consistently say: “We want to be heard. But more than that—we want a plan.”

❖ 2. What It Could Include

✅ Mental Health & Wellness

• Free or low-barrier youth mental health services across all provinces
• School-based mental health support embedded in curriculum
• Support for youth-led healing initiatives and peer support networks

✅ Education & Re-Skilling

• Universal access to post-secondary and vocational education
• National credentialing for green jobs, digital skills, and creative industries
• Investment in STEAM, entrepreneurship, and alternative education models

✅ Youth Employment & Economic Security

• Living wage internships and guaranteed first-job access programs
• A national Youth Basic Income pilot for vulnerable or transition-stage youth
• Paid leadership, arts, and civic roles in public service

✅ Democratic Participation

• Voting age review (16+ eligibility debate)
• Youth councils with decision-making power in Parliament and provinces
• Civic tech platforms for policy input, participatory budgeting, and issue campaigns

✅ Housing & Transit

• Youth-focused affordable housing policies (shared co-ops, modular, transitional)
• Free or discounted public transit programs for under-25s
• Wraparound supports for homeless, foster-involved, or newly arrived youth

✅ Digital Equity & Media Literacy

• National digital literacy curriculum from K–12
• Free internet and device access for low-income youth
• Youth co-governance of AI ethics and tech infrastructure policies

✅ Indigenous, Racialized, and Marginalized Youth Support

• Dedicated investment in Indigenous language, culture, and leadership programs
• Anti-racism frameworks baked into all national youth initiatives
• 2SLGBTQ+ youth safety, housing, and health infrastructure

❖ 3. How It Would Work

🏛 Led by Youth, Backed by Law

• Establish a Federal Youth Secretariat and National Youth Parliament
• Embed youth representation into all federal departments and decision-making frameworks

💬 Built Through Dialogue

• Conduct youth-led regional consultations, online feedback loops, and co-design labs
• Partner with schools, communities, grassroots orgs, and Indigenous nations to reach youth where they are

💰 Funded with Intent

• Multi-year investment with transparency on where the money goes and how it’s working
• A public dashboard showing progress, goals, and metrics—designed for youth, not just auditors

❖ Final Thought

A National Youth Strategy isn’t a wishlist.
It’s an acknowledgment that youth are not just transitioning—they’re transforming the country.

Let’s talk.
Let’s stop pretending a few internships and youth panels are enough.
Let’s build a system where young people don’t just survive—they shape, lead, and thrive.

Because they already are.
They just need a country that plans like they matter.