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Hamilton Spectator

Canadian students elected a Conservative government in a mock vote. Should Liberals take that as a warning?

More than 925,000 kids from across the country cast mock ballots this week — and in contrast with the results of Monday's federal election , they chose a Conservative government. The students — of elementary, intermediate and high school age — learned about democracy and elections from Student Vote Canada, and researched the parties and their platforms before heading into the voting booth. As of Tuesday afternoon, 928,862 votes were reported from more than 6,000 schools, representing all 343 electoral districts, according to Student Vote Canada, which is operated by CIVIX, an organization dedicated to enhancing civic engagement for school-aged youth. In the student vote, the Conservatives won a minority government with 162 seats and 36.4 per cent of the popular vote — and if it were up to school-aged Canadians, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre would have kept his seat in Ottawa's Carleton riding. With 149 seats in the House of Commons and 31.8 per cent of the popular vote, the Liberals formed the official Opposition, with leader Mark Carney winning his seat in Nepean, also in Ottawa. In line with the results of Monday's election, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault, who resigned Wednesday, lost their ridings in Burnaby Central, B.C., and Outremont, Que., respectively. The Greens' other co-leader, Elizabeth May, kept hers in Saanich—Gulf Islands , B.C. Both the NDP and Greens secured more seats in the student vote than they did in Monday's election, with 13 and two seats, respectively, versus the seven and one the parties actually won. With their 13 seats, the NDP would have maintained official party status , unlike in Monday's election. In an email, Semra Sevi, an assistant professor in the University of Toronto's department of political science, said students electing a Conservative government while voting-age Canadians elected a Liberal one 'signals a growing disconnect between the political preferences of younger voters and the broader electorate.' It also 'reflects a desire among youth for change, particularly around economic issues like housing, affordability and cost of living,' a frustration she credits Poilievre for effectively tapping in to, 'unlike previous Conservative leaders who struggled to connect' with the demographic. 'Many in the so-called 'aspirational class' feel that their efforts aren't translating into the progress or opportunities they expected,' Sevi added. In comparing the two main party platforms, Sevi said the Liberals have been more focused on expanding social supports and climate action, 'but may be perceived as having underdelivered,' especially given that they've governed for almost 10 years. Meanwhile, under Poilievre, the Conservatives have stressed affordability and economic mobility, 'which appeals to a generation anxious about their financial future, even if their policies on climate or social equity are more contentious,' she said. In Sevi's eyes, both parties have something to learn from the student vote. For the Conservatives, it's that 'addressing economic anxiety with clarity and consistency can open up new support among youth,' she said. But for the Liberals, it's a warning: 'relying on past progressive credentials without delivering real change on key issues like housing and affordability risks losing the next generation.'