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Intended Voting Habits

• Canadians aged 18-29 who intend to vote in the upcoming federal election: 90% (72%)
• People aged 18 to 24 who won't vote: 11%
• According to Elections Canada, percentage of 18-24 year olds who actually voted in 2000: 25%
• Youth who vote based on a party's platform: 29%

Eligible young voters who would…

Vote for the Liberal party today: 24%
Vote for the Conservatives today: 24%
Vote for the NDP today: 21%
Vote for the Bloc Quebecois today: 10%
Wouldn’t vote for any of the major parties: 21%

Quebec who would vote for the Bloc Quebecois: 40%
Albertans who would vote Conservative: 39%
Ontarian who would vote Liberal: 36%

Reasons for non-voting

Non-voting youth who believe they…

• "Do not know enough about the major electoral issues to make an informed voting decision:" 38% (58% in June 2004)
• "Feel that nothing changes from government to government:" 26%
• "Vote makes no difference:" 6%

Levels of Leadership Trust

Canadian youth who…

• trust Paul Martin: 17%
• trust Stephen Harper: 14%
• trust Jack Layton: 20%
• trust Gilles Duceppe: 10%

Canadian youth who do not trust any of the major party leaders: 41% (39%)

Impact of the Gomery Report on how to vote

"Less likely to vote for the Liberal Party:" 38%
"It has little or no affect on how I vote:" 38%
"More likely to vote for the Liberal Party:" 3%

"I don’t know what the Gomery Report is:" 20%

The State of Canada

Canadian youth who believe, in general…

• "Canada has gotten worse:" 30% (36%)
• "Canada is getting better:" 19% (23%)
• BC residents are most positive at 25% while those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the least positive at 13%
• "Canada is staying the same:" 48% (45%)

What Issues Young Voters Think Are Important To Other Young Canadians

Percentage of people who believe youth will vote if party leaders…

• make education their top priority: 54%
• make environmental issues their top priority: 8%
• make marijuana/drugs/alcohol policy their top priority: 6%
• make employment/jobs/wage issues their top priority: 4%

Youth Speak Out On Their Canadian Values

Percentage of youth who agree or completely agree…

• "Immigration should not be restricted in Canada, despite the challenging times:" 38% (47%)
• "Our nation would benefit greatly from lower taxes:" 40% (46%)
• "Foreign trade should be restricted in order to save jobs:" (27%)
• "Canada should use the death penalty to punish violent criminals:" 30% (30%)
• "It is always acceptable to restrict civil liberties and freedoms in the name of national defense:" 14% (5%)
• "Decriminalization of marijuana in Canada is a good idea:" 45% (41%)
• "The government should do more to protect the environment:" 85% (81%)
• "That the rights of gays and lesbians to marry should be legally protected:" 60% (62%)
• "Our mainstream media is effective at reporting a diversity of opinions:" 24% (8%)
• "Large, publicly traded corporations need much greater scrutiny to protect average citizens:" 56% (51%)

Renewing Democracy

• "The voting age should be lowered to 16 for all elections:" 14%
• "The voting age should be lowered to 16 for municipal elections:" 20%
• "Canadians should be allowed to vote on more single-issues as they come up:" 63%
• "Voting should be done on-line:" 39%
• "Voting for people under 18 should be mandatory in all schools and the results should be reported:" 18%