Canadian youth willing to step up

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/08/2025 (227 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Results from a recent Angus Reid poll suggest there is growing support across Canada for a mandatory civilian service for Canadian youth, much like what has been developed in parts of Europe, such as Germany, France and Norway.

The poll, which surveyed 1,619 Canadian adults from June 20-23, found that approximately seven in 10 — or 70 per cent — of Canadians supported of Canadians under 30 years of age donating one year of their existence in service to their country. This would include a variety of services: civil protection such as firefighting and disaster response; public health support in hospitals and elderly care; environmental support, involving work with Parks Canada and conservation efforts; and youth services, where young Canadians would offer their time for tutoring, mentorship and after-school programs.

There are a great many service clubs and government-run public services that could stand to benefit from this country’s younger generation. And in the process, young men and women would gain valuable work experience, potentially in a position within their chosen career path.

The data collected by Angus Reid was also particularly compelling in the 18 to 29 age group. When comparing support minus opposition across the four broad civil service areas, there was net positive support (+36 or higher) among young men, and a similar net positive support (+30 or higher) among young women.

“Young women are close to equally likely as young men to support each prospective field of service, aside from civil protection, which would include items like disaster response, emergency management and firefighting, where their net score dips 13 points lower than men,” the report reads.

Perhaps Canadian values aren’t all that dissimilar to Europeans after all. At least, there appears to be a willingness to offer their time for the public good.

However, these findings contrasted with similar questions regarding mandatory military service. Over all age groups, the same number support the idea of mandatory military service (43 per cent) as oppose it (44 per cent). Also, older Canadian men, particularly those over 60 years of age, were more likely to support the idea, whereas young men between 18-29 were more opposed.

“All female age groups are widely in opposition to this idea, aside from those 60 years of age and older, who are divided evenly (+2) on each side,” the report noted.

This is in spite of the fact that military recruitment is up this year — the highest it has been in a decade. It’s perhaps not all that surprising, however, that more Canadians would want to spend their time working in a place like Riding Mountain National Park doing conservation work than learning what it means to protect the country — and potentially being sent somewhere dangerous.

Like in any age, conscription isn’t the most popular option when it comes to voluntary service.

All of that said, for Canada to mandate a year of civilian or military service for all youth is not something that could be accomplished overnight. Expecting 18- to 29-year-olds to take a year in voluntary service has its own share of hardships, particularly when it comes to the care and feeding of these men and women.

One year out of the workforce may do the public a world of good, and offer youth an opportunity to contribute to society while developing new skills. But mandatory civil and military service in other countries relies on support systems being in place, such as subsidized housing and financial aid — wages and/or stipends to cover basic living expenses.

They’ve got to eat, they’ve got to sleep. And they need a roof over their head. And there is a cost associated with that.

At the moment, we’re still trying to find ways to build and pay for a slew of new residences for Canadians in the middle of a national housing crisis — not that enacting a one-year mandatory service is even on the federal government’s radar.

But it is worth noting that Canada’s young people are willing to step up to help our country, and learn something along the way. It’s a good reminder that Canadians are still willing to put their best foot forward when we need to.