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How the Research can Help You

Key Findings for Ethnocultural Organizations

The Research at a Glance

  • Conducted following the May 2011 federal election
  • Included 2,665 youth aged 18–34 from across the country
  • 411 ethnocultural youth participated in the study
  • Questions focused on the motivational and access barriers that young Canadians experience in exercising their right to vote

The National Youth Survey is the largest survey to date on the democratic participation of young Canadians. Here are key findings and recommendations to help support your outreach efforts to ethnocultural youth.

Encourage youth to get informed, and give them the tools to do so.

Ethnocultural youth who had higher levels of political knowledge were much more likely to vote in the May 2011 election. For example, 80% of those who correctly answered three political questions reported voting, compared to 34% of those who could not answer one question correctly. Ethnocultural associations can help by providing information on how to access party platforms, sharing website links for educational resources, and working with youth groups and community organizations to host political information sessions. Using plain language is important to reach youth at all levels of education.

Support multiple forms of civic engagement.

Our survey confirmed that there is a positive relationship between voting and other forms of civic engagement. Ethnocultural youth who participated in different political activities – such as signing a petition or attending a community meeting about a local issue – were also more likely to vote. Among ethnocultural youth who had participated in two or more activities, 70% voted, compared to 57% of those who had participated in no activities. Providing many opportunities for youth to get involved can help them to become more active citizens all around.

Encourage youth to participate in community meetings and gatherings.

Turnout for ethnocultural youth who attended community meetings was 15 percentage points higher than for ethnocultural youth as a whole. Community meetings and gatherings are key places for ethnocultural youth to discuss issues of importance with community leaders and peers. Given their importance, they can also provide opportunities to encourage democratic participation.

Organize political debates with parties, candidates and elected officials.

Political debates are a great way to learn about politics and provide an opportunity for young people to interact with politicians. Turnout for ethnocultural youth who were directly contacted by a candidate or party during the election was 21 percentage points higher than for youth who were not contacted. Hosting political debates can create opportunities for parties, candidates and elected officials to reach out to youth, listen to their views, and learn about those issues that are most important to them. This is particularly important given that ethnocultural youth are less likely to be directly contacted by a party or candidate. In fact, only 30% of ethnocultural youth were contacted, compared to 40% of the youth population as a whole.

Encourage youth to talk about politics with their family and friends.

Turnout for ethnocultural youth who often discussed politics at home was 26 percentage points higher than for those who had never discussed politics at home. Ethnocultural youth who had political discussions with friends were also more likely to vote. These findings show that family and friends are important influences on ethnocultural youth who vote. Talking about politics with peers and at home is a good way to increase political interest and knowledge and promote democratic participation.

Make voting information available during elections.

Ethnocultural youth still face a number of access barriers to voting, including a lack of information about the electoral process. Providing more information about where, when, and how to vote can help address these barriers. Elections Canada produces a lot of print and electronic material that can help get the word out and can also work with you to set up information booths where youth are likely to visit.

Canada’s democracy belongs to all Canadians – young and old alike – and we all can do our part to support it.

Working together, we can give youth from all communities the tools they need to play an active role in the democratic life of this country.

You are the future.
Make your voices heard. Reverse the trend.

info@elections.ca
1-800-463-6868
TTY: 1-800-361-8935