Three federal party leaders come together to discuss the ‘youth vote’

It didn't really produce any new strategies to increase the student vote.

In fact, at times it turned-into an elongated series of anti-Stephen Harper diatribes.

Nevertheless, 'I Vote-Je Vote' — a new initiative launched by University of Ottawa faculty students to offer voting-age youth an opportunity to engage in the political process — held their first major forum on Tuesday afternoon.

The event hall was packed to the rafters thanks, in part, to an impressive panel which included Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, Conservative MP Michael Chong and moderated by TVO host Steve Paikin.

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Youth engagement in politics has been a challenge in Canada for years.

During the 2008 federal election, voter turnout of people between the ages of 18 and 24 was a paltry 37 per cent, compared to the national turnout rate of 57 per cent.

Despite a concerted effort by Elections Canada, universities and student associations, things didn't change much in 2011: Total voter turnout was 61.1 per cent while youth voter turnout was 38.8 per cent.

So how do you motivate youth to vote?

Again, the politicos didn't really offer any tangible solutions.

Green Party leader Elizabeth May says that politicians need to a do a better job of serving youth.

"This is not about politicians looking for support. This is about us working for you in a society which is a real democracy.

"It's not just that we take on issues that appeal to youth. We've got to go to work for youth and prove that the institutions of the democracy work for the citizen not for some elites somewhere who call the shots behind the scenes."

Trudeau wants to show youth that they matter.

"For me, the engagement that I have, that I spend a huge amount of time doing outside the House of Commons is about drawing people back in to the political process," Trudeau told the crowd.

"You are involved in community projects in charitable organizations, in big single issue causes, you take stands on issues that matter to you. You've just become convinced that politics isn't necessarily a useful use of your time and energy.

"We need to draw you in by reaching out and engaging with you."

Michael Chong took a different tact — he tried to appeal to the students' pocketbooks.

"In Canada 40 cents of every dollar that is produced in this country is collected by governments in various forms of taxation," he said.

"And if you don't vote, if you don't participate in our political life, you are basically saying you don't care how that 40 cents of every dollar is spent. In fact, what you are saying is that other people can decide how 40 cents of every dollar you make is going to be spent."

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The politicians' weak suggestions notwithstanding, pollster Nik Nanos suggested that greater youth engagement in the 2015 election is a plausible goal.

"In the 2008 provincial election in Quebec, 36 per cent of Quebecers under the age of 25 voted," he told the crowd.

"In the last election, the most recent election in 2012...62 per cent [of people under the age of 25 voted]. Why did this happen? Quite simply because we know that students not just mobilized but were engaged because education as an issue was part of the public policy dialogue and it was important."

Nanos suggests that if parties want youth to vote, they need to reach out with diverse public policy dialogue that interests younger Canadians -- like education.

What do you think?

How can we buoy youth voter turnout in the next election?

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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