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### Viewing cable 08OTTAWA1091, YOUNG VOTERS HAVE POTENTIAL TO INFLUENCE ELECTION

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08OTTAWA1091 | 2008-08-14 20:06 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Ottawa

`

    VZCZCXRO1085
    PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC
    DE RUEHOT #1091/01 2272006
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    P 142006Z AUG 08
    FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8348
    INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001091

    SENSITIVE

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV CA

    SUBJECT: YOUNG VOTERS HAVE POTENTIAL TO INFLUENCE ELECTION

    ¶1.  (SBU) Summary: Conventional wisdom in Canada suggests that young
    voters are apathetic.  Indeed, official data show youth
    participation rates in federal elections have declined since 1993.
    However, mission conversations with politically-active young
    Canadians suggest that many of them are politically savvy and
    willing to engage, although they seem to favor social protests and
    events organized through the internet as their primary means of
    political expression.  Youth policy priorities do not necessarily
    track with those of older generations either.  The recent upsurge of
    interest among young American voters in Barack Obama's campaign
    might also have a ripple effect in Canada, according to our
    contacts.  These generational differences could bring crucial
    support in the prospective fall 2008 federal election for the party
    that can best tap into issues that interest young people and engage
    them in their preferred media.  End summary.

    The Disappearing Young Voter
    ----------------------------

    ¶2.  (U) In all Western democracies the turnout rate for young voters
    has declined significantly in recent years, and Canada is no
    exception.  Only 38 percent of 18-24 year olds voted in the 2004
    federal election.  A 2007 report by the non-partisan Canadian Policy
    Research Networks (CPRN) said that young Canadians are not only less
    likely to vote, but also are less likely to be interested in
    conventional politics or to be members of political parties and
    interest groups.  Young Canadians are more likely to engage in
    political demonstrations and to be involved with a group or
    organization, said report author Brenda O'Neill.  When measuring
    non-traditional political activity, such as political protest and
    demonstrations, young people participated at a level equal to or
    higher than every other age category, according to O'Neill.

    Clashing Values and Neglect Deflate Youth Turnout
    --------------------------------------------- ----

    ¶3.  (U) Some factors for the decline in traditional civic
    participation among youth include a deficiency of political
    knowledge, a perceived lack of competition between political
    parties, a misunderstanding of the importance of parties, and a
    belief that traditional politics are not an effective conduit to
    political change, according to a study by Elections Canada.
    Researchers also cite increasing individualism and social isolation
    due to more advanced technology as a catalyst for the changing
    nature of political participation and civic engagement.  Politicians
    tend also to focus their energy to engage baby boomers, who do vote
    more often than young people.  Not surprisingly, groups that get the
    most attention from politicians tend to have an increased voter
    turnout, according to an Elections Canada study.

    ¶4.  (U) Researchers report that another reason for the declining
    young voter turnout rate is that young Canadians hold different
    values than older voters.  Since politicians tend to focus on the
    priorities of older voters, young people believe their political
    leaders ignore their interests, according to a 2007 CPRN report by
    Andre Turcotte.  The environment, education, and health care are the
    areas most important to Canadian youth.  They care less about
    defense and economic issues, according to a 2007 CPRN poll.
    Candidates who are seeking the support of young voters are using new
    campaign methods that are perceived as youth-friendly, including
    blogs, text-messaging, and interactive websites.  The Liberal and
    Conservative parties both use these methods, but interact with their
    younger counterparts differently.  Liberals devote a significant
    Qyounger counterparts differently.  Liberals devote a significant
    portion of time and money to their youth organizations, providing
    them with dedicated channels for input on policy development.  The
    Conservatives connect to their youth wings by providing Party news
    and campaign ideas to their university and riding clubs.  They do
    invite young Conservatives to their party conventions.  However, the
    Tories maintain their dominant focus on issues that appeal to older
    generations such as security and the economy.

    Liberals Attract Youth
    ----------------------

    ¶5.  (U) The Liberal Party has reached out to young Canadians by
    forming a youth commission for citizens under the age of 26, called
    the Young Liberals of Canada (YLC). YLC is divided into provincial
    organizations and riding associations within each province.  Their
    membership has ranged in recent years from 60,000 to 80,000.  For
    biennial Liberal Party Conventions up to four Young Liberals in each
    electoral district can join the delegation.  The Liberal Party has a
    blog, podcasts, and online videos (coined "Liberal TV).  MPs and
    high ranking Liberals have made efforts to engage youth by hosting
    events such as beach parties and making appearances at concerts
    hosted by Young Liberals clubs.

    ¶6.  (U) In addition to support for the larger party, Young Liberals

    OTTAWA 00001091  002 OF 002

    of Canada has its own policy objectives such as relieving poverty in
    Africa, fighting climate change, protecting Canadian sex workers,
    improving post-secondary education, protecting civil liberties, and
    promoting same-sex marriage rights. In particular, the Young
    Liberals campaigned hard to make same-sex marriage rights part of
    the Liberal platform during the 2006 party plenary.

    Tories Focused on Older Voters
    ------------------------------

    ¶7.  (U) The Conservatives voted to eliminate their federal youth
    wing in 2004 when the Progressive Conservative Party and Canadian
    Alliance merged to form the Conservative Party of Canada.  CPC
    Energy, an unofficial conservative youth organization, is present
    forty universities.  They also offer summer parliamentary
    internships for college students.  At the provincial level, the
    Ontario PC Association is the governing executive which divides into
    riding clubs similar in organization to the Ontario Young Liberals.
    The Conservative Party seeks to garner support from young people by
    using cell phone texting, e-cards, podcasts, email and blogs to
    circulate Conservative news and policies.  The Tories require that
    at least one of the twelve persons in each electoral district
    delegation be 23 years old or younger.

    ¶8.  (U) Major issues for youth members of CPC Energy are a free
    economic markets, environmental protection, and lower taxes to
    stimulate the economy.  However, while young Conservatives tend to
    support policies fighting climate change, they oppose the Liberal's
    Green Shift carbon tax plan proposed by Liberal leader Stephane
    Dion.  The absence of a federal youth wing of the party could have
    political ramifications in future elections if Conservative youth
    feel marginalized, according to a 2008 analysis by the non-partisan
    youth organization "Apathy is Boring".  The Liberal Party stands to
    win more of the youth vote due to its proactive inclusion of young
    Canadians, according to the report.

    ¶9. (SBU) In conversations with young Canadian political activists,
    it is clear that young people from both parties are responsive to
    MPs contacting them and engaging them in the political sphere.
    Katie Jellett, the Provincial President of the Ottawa-Orleans Young
    Liberals Club, told the political section intern that Liberal MPs
    support fundraisers and rallies organized by young Liberals. Jellett
    added that her Young Liberal peers travelled to Detroit to campaign
    for Barack Obama, indicating, she said, that some of Senator Obama's
    popularity with young Americans has spread to Canada and encouraged
    increased youth activity in Canda.  She also said Justin Trudeau,
    son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, may be the kind of
    candidate in the next few years who compares to Obama in appealing
    to youth.

    Education and Engagement Are Keys to Higher Turnout
    --------------------------------------------- ------

    ¶10. (SBU) Extensive and increased school-based civic education is
    the key to increased youth political participation, according to
    Elections Canada and CPRN researchers.  However, young people are
    also organizing themselves to promote the youth vote.  The
    non-partisan Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO)
    promotes political participation by young voters in local and
    national politics in the capital region.  SFUO Campaign Coordinator
    Michael Cheevers said his organization does extensive
    "get-out-the-vote" operations during election seasons.  He said the
    popular "Rock the Vote" campaign in association with the young
    Conservatives club and the Young Liberals uses rock concerts to
    encourage students to vote.  The fringes of the concert hall are
    Qencourage students to vote.  The fringes of the concert hall are
    lined with booths to disseminate information about the parties and
    issues, encouraging students to register and become informed voters.

    ¶11. (SBU) Comment: While the youth turnout rate is much lower than
    that of older voters, young people are not politically indifferent.
    As in much of the rest of the developed world, young Canadians care
    about different issues than older generations.  Youth organizations
    such as "Apathy is Boring" and "Student Vote Canada" show that young
    people do tend to organize themselves but do so differently than
    older citizens, with more emphasis on internet-based forms of
    communication and mobilization through protests and demonstrations.
    In a close election, an energized youth vote might tip the balance
    for the party that is best able to tap into the ambitions and
    desires of the new generation of citizens.

    Wilkins

`