Election 2019: B.C. sends four millennials to Ottawa; in 2015, we elected just one MP under 40
Credit to Author: Lori Culbert| Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2019 22:34:06 +0000
In an election in which millennials represented the largest block of voters, B.C. is sending four MPs under the age of 40 to Ottawa. That’s a jump over the one millennial this province elected federally in 2015. Together, the four represent nearly 10 per cent of the 42 B.C. MPs.
“B.C. is still a laggard relative to the rest of Canada, but quadrupling the number of millennial MPs is a big step in the right direction, especially given that they represent all three of the major national parties,” said Gavin Dew, 35, who formed Vancouver-based Forum for Millennial Leadership a year ago after realizing how few young people were elected in B.C. at any political level.
Based on Dew’s analysis, 16 per cent of the 338 MPs elected nationally Monday night are millennials.
Millennials account for the largest number of voters in this election at 35 per cent of the Canadian population, surpassing generation Xers and baby boomers for the first time. The youth vote increased significantly in the 2015 election, largely propelled by Trudeaumania, but statistics aren’t yet available to indicate how many young people cast ballots this year.
In addition to Beech, Dew said, the other millennials elected Monday are the NDP’s Laurel Collins in the Victoria riding; the Conservatives’ Brad Vis in Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon; and Liberal Patrick Weiler of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country.
Laurel Collins. Photo: NDP
Brad Vis, Conservative candidate for Mission Matsqui Fraser Canyon.
Weiler, 33, said it’s an important message to young voters when they see candidates closer to their own age getting elected.
“I think a lot of times younger people can be potentially apathetic with politics when they see everybody who is working in government is from a completely different generation, who might not understand the type of priorities that they have,” said Weiler, a lawyer. “A lot of the issues that they want to see addressed are the same issues that resonate for me: That’s making sure we have an effective response to climate change, addressing housing affordability and making sure we are building the type of economy we want in the future.”
Weiler’s huge riding, which stretches from mansion-filled West Vancouver up Highway 99 to more-rural Pemberton and along the Sunshine Coast, had many young people volunteer for the campaign.
“A big part that powered us to victory was having an incredible group of volunteers from high schools, and people in their 20s … For me, that’s been so encouraging to see,” he said. “So now it’s really where the tough work starts: It’s making good on the faith that they’ve put in me to be able to make sure that the issues from my generation are represented in the policies and legislation that we have.”
Terry Beech, left, hugs Patrick Weiler after the two millennials won their ridings Monday. Jason Payne/PNG
Twitter: @loriculbert