Conservative Party of Canada’s leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to supporters at an election campaign event in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada April 22, 2025. REUTERS/Arlyn McAdorey/File Photo

Youth Support Bolsters Conservative Campaign Ahead of Canadian Election

April 26, 2025

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre rallied supporters north of Toronto this week, addressing a crowd at a union headquarters while Canadian country music played in the background. “Who is voting for a change in Canada?!” Poilievre shouted, appealing to voters frustrated by economic challenges.

The 45-year-old opposition leader drew on nostalgia, referencing a time in the 1970s when Canadians could pay off a mortgage in seven years — a sharp contrast to the current decades-long burden in many cities.

Conservatives Target Young Voters

Despite initially holding a 20-point lead, recent polls suggest the Conservatives are expected to lose Monday’s federal election to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals. Carney’s strong criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump has helped solidify Liberal support among older voters.

However, Poilievre’s emphasis on cost-of-living issues is resonating notably with younger Canadians, particularly young men. A Nanos poll conducted from April 21 to 23 found that 49.3% of voters aged 18–34 favored the Conservatives, compared to 30% support for the Liberals. Across all age groups, the Liberals led with 42.9% to the Conservatives’ 39.3%. Among men of all ages, 45.5% supported the Conservatives versus 36.7% for the Liberals.

The survey sampled 1,307 Canadians and carries a margin of error of ±2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Generational Shift

To Canadians under 35, Poilievre represents a break from nearly a decade of Liberal governance under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, often referred to by Poilievre as the “lost Liberal decade.” Affordability concerns, including housing and everyday expenses, appear to outweigh international issues such as Canada’s relationship with the United States for these voters.

Carney, who assumed leadership of the Liberal Party in March, has sought to distinguish himself from Trudeau’s policies.

“I’ve lived through the struggle of trying to get groceries, paying your bills and trying to save and start a family,” said Joshua Dwyer, 24, a journalism student attending his third Poilievre rally. “It doesn’t work under the Liberal government. We’ve tried it for 10 years and it doesn’t work.”

Youth Turnout Could Prove Decisive

While Poilievre continues to draw large crowds, the final outcome may hinge on youth voter turnout, which historically lags behind older age groups. In the past four elections, Canadians aged 55–64 and 75+ voted in greater numbers than those aged 18–34.

Conservative-aligned TikTok accounts are encouraging young voters to convince their parents to support Poilievre, hoping to bridge the generational divide.

The Liberals have attempted to link Poilievre’s populist approach to that of U.S. President Trump. Poilievre, who has pledged to end government funding for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), dismantle homeless encampments, and limit press access to his campaign, mentioned Trump only once during a recent rally in Vaughan.

His campaign team did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Housing Affordability Central to Debate

The average home price in Canada has increased approximately 70% since 2015, peaking in early 2022 during a period of elevated interest rates, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Both Carney and Poilievre have pledged to eliminate the federal sales tax on new home construction. However, Poilievre’s preference for reducing government involvement and empowering private sector development has drawn support from younger voters such as Cameron Pinto, a 24-year-old paramedic student.

“I’m here because I believe that mismanagement of the last 10 years has caused a lot of problems,” Pinto said.

Broader Discontent Among Youth

Carney, 60, has emphasized his experience managing economic crises during his time as governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. Yet many younger Canadians, who were children during those periods, remain more concerned with current affordability issues.

Political analysts note that the trend mirrors similar developments in the United States and Europe, where younger voters have recently leaned more conservative.

“I think there’s an undercurrent among young adults that there are no longer the opportunities that earlier generations faced,” said Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba.

The significance of this potential generational shift remains uncertain. “They haven’t learned the habit of voting. They don’t see it as much of a duty, as old people like me do,” Thomas said.