Government Actions on Canada’s State of Youth

First State of Youth Report: What youth told us in 2021 and how we are responding

The first State of Youth Report was published in 2021. Since the report was published, young people in Canada have been navigating a world that has changed dramatically. While Canada’s economy has shown resilience in recovering from the pandemic – marked by rising wages, decreasing inflation, and over a million more Canadians employed than before – many young people continue to face significant challenges.

Despite these hurdles, youth in Canada have demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. They continue to innovate, engage in social causes, and lead within their communities, inspiring hope for the future.

Nearly 1,000 youth from across Canada were consulted on the six youth-identified priorities of Canada’s Youth Policy. Here is what they told us:

Truth and Reconciliation

All levels of government in Canada must work towards a trusting relationship with Indigenous peoples. They must help communities, create concrete action plans, and develop ways to be held accountable to that. This includes addressing racism in healthcare and implementing an education that values Indigenous ways of being and learning.^{Footnote 1}

The Government of Canada has responded to youth calls for a trusting relationship with Indigenous peoples and accountability across various areas through several initiatives:

Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation: We have reaffirmed our dedication to advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. These efforts include investments in Indigenous-led initiatives, language revitalization, and community-based healing projects. Budget 2024 includes funding for Indigenous communities to address intergenerational trauma and strengthen mental health services.^{Footnote 2} The need for action is important as the 2021 Census found that the number of people who could speak an Indigenous language had declined by almost 11,000 and the number who reported one as a mother tongue had declined by more than 14,000 from the previous Census. On a positive note, the number of students in public and elementary schools enrolled in an Indigenous language program rose by 6,000 from 2016 to 2021.^{Footnote 3}
Anti-racism in healthcare: To address systemic racism in healthcare and respect Jordan’s Principle, we have launched various initiatives aimed at Indigenous health. This includes support for culturally appropriate health services, improving access to care in remote and northern communities, and addressing racism and bias within the healthcare system. These actions are part of a broader effort to improve health outcomes and eliminate disparities experienced by Indigenous populations.^{Footnote 4}
Education: We are also focused on reforming education systems to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing and learning. This includes ongoing support for Indigenous-controlled education systems and curriculum reforms to ensure schools across the country teach Indigenous histories, cultures, and languages. These educational initiatives aim to foster understanding and build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada.^{Footnote 5}
Indigenous governance and accountability: We have also taken steps to improve accountability and build trust by supporting Indigenous governance structures. This includes investing in self-determination initiatives, such as land claims and self-government agreements, which empower Indigenous communities to control their own affairs and foster transparency and accountability in their relationships with all levels of government.^{Footnote 6}

These responses demonstrate our ongoing efforts to address youth concerns by prioritizing Reconciliation, combating systemic racism, and ensuring Indigenous voices are at the forefront of change.

Environment and climate action

Youth do not just want small action; they want ambitious climate action where youth and marginalized groups are at the centre of the solution.^{Footnote 7}

The Government of Canada has listened by committing over $160 billion to build Canada’s clean economy and reduce emissions, and investing significant additional resources to protect the environment and conserve nature, including:

Job creation and the shift to net-zero emissions: Recognizing that climate action must also support economic resilience, we are focusing on ensuring a just transition for workers in high-emissions sectors. This includes funding for skills training and job creation in the green economy, ensuring that workers are not left behind as Canada moves toward cleaner industries. In 2022, we consulted Canadians, including youth, to ensure that the shift to net-zero emissions is done in a way that creates sustainable jobs.^{Footnote 8} It is anticipated that the clean energy sector will see annual job growth of 3.4% over the next decade, outpacing the Canadian average by almost four times over.^{Footnote 9}
Making homes more energy efficient: We have committed $33.2 million over 5 years to implement a Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program.^{Footnote 10} This program aims to help Canada reduce emissions by making existing homes more energy efficient. Through this program, we are focusing on neighbourhood-level retrofits of homes, which is a scalable approach to significantly improving energy efficiency across residential areas.
Promoting a cleaner economy: We have committed $2.2 billion over 7 years to expand and extend the Low Carbon Economy Fund, which supports the installation of emission reducing technologies.^{Footnote 11} Since its launch in 2017, the program has helped accelerate Canada’s transition to a low-carbon future, supporting projects such as residential and commercial building retrofits; energy efficient heating technology in public housing, and residential energy efficiency programming.^{Footnote 12}
Increasing food security: We have committed $62.9 million over three years starting in 2024-2025 to top up the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to strengthen food security in communities across Canada.^{Footnote 13} Through this program, we are strengthening local food systems by funding projects that improve access to healthy, locally-produced food, support local food production, processing, distribution, and consumption, and build community capacity for these activities – particularly for equity-seeking groups, such as Indigenous and Black communities.

Health and wellness

Youth across Canada have been facing difficulties in accessing healthcare, including mental health care, both pre-pandemic and during.^{Footnote 14}

The Government of Canada has responded by:

Mental health: A new Mental Health Fund was created in 2024 to help younger people in Canada access the mental health they need.^{Footnote 15} It focuses on increasing access to care, supporting various youth-oriented programs such as counseling and therapy, and addressing gaps in current services. By improving funding and expanding services, the Mental Health Fund aims to reduce wait times, ensure timely support, and ultimately enhance the mental health outcomes for young people in Canada.
National pharmacare: We are continuing to make progress towards a universal national pharmacare program through Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare, and by tasking Canada’s Drug Agency to develop a national formulary of essential medicines and bulk purchasing plan.^{Footnote 16}
Dental care: We have committed $13 billion over 5 years starting in 2023-24, and $4.4 billion ongoing to implement the Canadian Dental Care Plan, with an additional $250 million over 3 years starting in 2025-26, and $75 million ongoing to establish an Oral Health Access Fund to address oral health gaps among vulnerable populations.^{Footnote 17} By increasing access to services and reducing out-of-pocket costs, the Canadian Dental Care Plan is designed to improve oral health outcomes and provide financial relief to individuals and families, addressing significant gaps in dental care access across the country.
National School Food Program: We have committed $1 billion over 5 years to the development of a National School Food Program that will provide 400,000 meals to children above what is already provided through other existing food programs.^{Footnote 18},^{Footnote 19}
Suicide prevention: We have committed $158.4 million over 3 years to support the implementation and operation of 9-8-8, a national three-digit number for suicide prevention and emotional distress support.^{Footnote 20} The introduction of 9-8-8 is part of a broader effort to streamline access to crisis services and ensure that individuals in need of urgent help can reach trained professionals quickly and efficiently. It is modeled after similar crisis lines in other countries, aiming to offer a simple and accessible way for individuals to get the support they need during times of mental health distress. Since its launch in November 2023, the 9-8-8 hotline has received upwards of 1,000 calls and 450 texts a day.^{Footnote 21}
Online safety: We have introduced legislation to hold social media platforms accountable for addressing harmful content on their platforms and for creating a safer online space that protects all people in Canada, especially kids. This includes $52 million invested over 4 years starting in 2024 to advance digital safety.^{Footnote 22}

Leadership and impact

Leadership opportunities for youth are valuable; however, factors such as income, location, and access to role models and government opportunities create gaps in access to those opportunities.

Youth councils in departments and agencies across the Government of Canada advise senior government officials on the issues that matter to them. These bodies include:

Employment

Youth are facing a variety of challenges finding meaningful employment and there are significant inequities across different groups. The unemployment rate for youth (15-24) sits at approximately 14%^{Footnote 23} - more than double the overall national rate of 6.4%.^{Footnote 24} For youth belonging to visible minority groups, that rate jumps to approximately 18%. Unemployment rates have been highest among youth who identify as West Asian (approximately 26%), Black (approximately 23%), and Chinese (approximately 21%).^{Footnote 25} For students (20-24) returning to school in the Fall, the employment rate has seen a year-over-year decrease since 2022.^{Footnote 26}

Youth need continuous support from governments to attain entry level jobs that provide opportunities for growth and career development.^{Footnote 27} The Government of Canada is responding by:

Helping youth gain work experience: We have committed $207.6 million in 2025-26 to the Student Work Placement Program,^{Footnote 28} $100.2 million over 3 years to continue supporting work placement for First Nations youth through the Income Assistance-First Nations Youth Employment Strategy Pilot,^{Footnote 29} and $13 million to enhance the Youth Employment and Skills Program and help support approximately 1,200 jobs for youth in the agricultural sector.^{Footnote 30} We have also supported opportunities for youth to benefit from international work and travel experiences through International Experience Canada.^{Footnote 31} Similarly, we have committed $200.5 million to the Canada Summer Jobs program for 2025-26, which aims to create job opportunities for youth. Since 2020, the Canada Summer Jobs program has helped create more than 380,000 job opportunities, and in 2023, alone, it supported the creation of 74,200 jobs.^{Footnote 32},^{Footnote 33}
Affordability: We have increased Canada Student Grants by 40% –providing up to $4,200 for full-time students.^{Footnote 34} It is expected that this increase will benefit approximately 587,000 students.^{Footnote 35} All Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans are also increased.^{Footnote 36}
Equity: We have invested $272.6 million over 5 years to support the implementation of an employment strategy for persons with disabilities through the Opportunities Fund.^{Footnote 37} The AgriDiversity program is a $5 million program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership that supports projects aimed at helping Indigenous peoples, including Indigenous youth, and other underrepresented groups to fully participate in the sector.^{Footnote 38} Among the projects AgriDiversity has funded is the Enhancement of Youth Leadership Skills for Increased Capacity for AG, which is receiving $574,000 from 2023 to 2026 to help underrepresented groups in agriculture address key issues and barriers to participation in the sector.^{Footnote 39} $868,300 has also been invested to establish a work-integrated learning centre for Indigenous youth at the University of Lethbridge.^{Footnote 40}
Addressing barriers to employment: Through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy program, which funds initiatives that help youth to overcome barriers to employment,^{Footnote 41}we have supported over 26,000 diverse youth – of which 39% identify as racialized, 25% identify as having a disability, and 18% identify as Indigenous.

Innovation, skills, and learning

All youth should be given equal and fair opportunities to learn and succeed. Extra or unnecessary hardships only serve to slow and harm youth development and goal achievement.^{Footnote 42}

Billions of dollars have been committed to jobs and skills training for youth, to providing accessible training for those in remote and Northern communities, and to upskilling and retraining workers in sectors impacted by the emergence of artificial intelligence. These commitments include:

Innovation supports: $40.9 million has been invested over 5 years and $9.7 million ongoing to support targeted scholarships and fellowships for promising Black student researchers.^{Footnote 43} This funding has led to the creation of 280 new undergraduate student research awards, 60 Masters and 30 Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarships, and 18 postdoctoral fellowships per year through the tri-agency (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research).^{Footnote 44} $47.8 million has been invested over 5 years and $20.1 million ongoing to launch a new national lab-to-market platform to help graduate students and researchers take their work to market. ^{Footnote 45}
Training: $58 million has been invested over two years for the Supports for Student Learning Program.^{Footnote 46} These funds build on previous investments and support national and local organizations who deliver targeted after-school and student services to help low-income, Indigenous, and other equity-deserving youth graduate high school and succeed in post-secondary education or training. Among the programs the Supports for Student Learning Program has helped support are Goal Getters (as part of the Youth Employment Skill Strategy) and the Outbound Student Mobility Pilot, which seeks to create opportunities for students to develop their skills by studying and working abroad. Youth can also learn about their taxes through an online learning tool launched to help improve tax-literacy.^{Footnote 47}

Context of youth in Canada since the first State of Youth Report

Since the first State of Youth Report, young people in Canada have been navigating a world that has changed dramatically. While Canada’s economy has shown resilience in recovering from the pandemic – marked by rising wages, decreasing inflation, and over a million more Canadians employed than before – many young people continue to face significant challenges.

Affordability and economic uncertainty

Youth are feeling the financial squeeze more than most. They express deeper concerns about the hyper concentration of wealth compared to older generations. Higher housing costs and elevated consumer prices make it difficult for many to afford basic living expenses like food, rent, and tuition. Food insecurity rose from 15.7% in 2020 to 18.4% in 2021.^{Footnote 48} Homelessness and chronic homelessness are on the rise. The increase in the cost of living disproportionately impacts youth: 51% are living paycheque-to-paycheque, and the youth poverty rate stands at 14%, the highest among demographics in Canada. Economic uncertainty has hit youth particularly hard, with unemployment rates for young people remaining about double that of the general population.^{Footnote 49} The labour market they are entering is vastly different from that of previous generations, shaped by new and emerging technologies, the rise of gig work, an aging workforce, and globalization. These factors are transforming the nature of work, presenting both challenges and new opportunities.

Trust in democratic institutions

Another critical issue is the declining trust in democratic institutions among younger generations.^{Footnote 50} Many youth feel disconnected from government and are skeptical about whether it truly represents their interests. This growing distrust is a serious concern, as it impacts their civic engagement and their belief in the effectiveness of political processes. Rebuilding trust requires meaningful engagement with young people and ensuring that their voices are heard and valued in decision-making processes.

Climate anxiety and environmental action

Climate change has become a defining issue for today’s youth, profoundly affecting their outlook on the future. More than half of youth in Canada report experiencing fear, sadness, anxiety, and a sense of powerlessness in the face of environmental challenges.^{Footnote 51} They are acutely aware of the consequences of climate change and are demanding urgent action to address it. This climate anxiety is driving a wave of youth led activism, as young people push for stronger environmental policies and more sustainable practices at all levels of society.

Addressing climate change and its impacts is crucial not only for the environment, but also for the mental well-being of young people in Canada who are deeply invested in the planet’s future. Despite gradual decreases in its emissions output since 2015, Canada is not on track to meet its targets of a 40% emissions reduction (from 2005 rates) by 2030 or of net-zero by 2050.^{Footnote 52},^{Footnote 53},^{Footnote 54}

Shared concerns about healthcare

Youth, like their fellow Canadians, are concerned about an overburdened healthcare system.^{Footnote 55} This shared concern reflects broader anxieties about the adequacy of healthcare services, and the ability to address both physical and mental health needs effectively. Mounting financial pressures, along with the challenges of navigating a changing job market, have contributed to increased stress and anxiety. Ensuring that young people have access to timely and effective mental health support must remain a critical focus.

Growing emphasis on equity and inclusion

At the same time, there’s a growing emphasis on equity and inclusion, with young people leading the way in advocating for social justice, climate action, and the rights of marginalized communities. However, not all youth experience these challenges equally. Indigenous youth, new immigrants, those living in poverty or facing homelessness, 2SLGBTQI+ youth, young people with disabilities, racialized and Black youth, and young women face additional barriers to education, training, and employment. Their unique experiences require targeted support to ensure they can succeed.

Government response

The Government of Canada has responded to these current and emerging concerns by:

Passing the Affordable Housing and Groceries Act, to enhance competition and help stabilize prices for Canadians, particularly in the grocery sector. ^{Footnote 56}
Introducing the Canadian Mortgage Charter, which details the tailored mortgage relief to provide borrowers who are facing financial difficulty with the mortgage on their principal residence.^{Footnote 57}
Committing over $4 billion through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy, for communities to provide services, transitional housing, and shelter to those who need it most.^{Footnote 58}
Enhancing Free and Affordable Bank Accounts: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada is in negotiations with banks to secure enhanced agreements to offer modernized $0 per month and up to $4 per month bank accounts that reflect the realities of banking today, including more transactions, as well as expanded eligibility for $0 accounts (including youth).^{Footnote 59}

Looking forward: Canada’s second State of Youth Report

As we look toward the second State of Youth Report, it’s clear that the context in which young people live, learn, and work has changed significantly. The second State of Youth report will be published in 2025. For more information on the development of the second State of Youth report, please visit State of Youth.

Stay Connected

For the latest in government opportunities, federal updates, insights, and exciting programs for youth, subscribe to the Leaders Today Newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Page details

Date modified:: 2024-11-25

Language selection

Search