Final Report of the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly
Inquiry--Debate Adjourned
February 24, 2026
Rose pursuant to notice of December 9, 2025:
That she will call the attention of the Senate to the final report of the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly.
She said: Honourable senators, I rise this evening in the Senate of Canada, on the unceded lands of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation, to speak to Inquiry No. 11.
Today, I will kick off that inquiry — a Senate conversation — on the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly, the first national-level citizens’ assembly on climate in Canada and the first citizens’ assembly on climate in the world designed for people aged 18 to 25.
The Canadian Youth Climate Assembly was developed by Environmental Leadership Canada and MASS LBP in partnership with Senators for Climate Solutions — with us.
Before I go much further, I want to briefly mention the origins of Senators for Climate Solutions. Five years sure does fly by quickly.
On May 14, 2021, I sent a letter to all senators inviting them to join our own uniquely constituted and mandated Senate of Canada coalition for urgent climate action. To date, 73 senators have responded by joining our Senators for Climate Solutions group, with several retirements and new senators appointed over the past five years. We now have 60 members. Senators Kutcher and Quinn have each served as co-chairs with me, and now Senator Muggli has stepped into that role.
Inspired by Peers for the Planet, the U.K. House of Lords climate group, Senators for Climate Solutions plays a convening and knowledge-building role in order to inform our legislative work.
Senators for Climate Solutions had been looking into the possibility of mounting a citizens’ assembly on climate for some time and have had two learning sessions with Professor Graham Smith, Chair of the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies at the University of Westminster, and Peter MacLeod of MASS LBP, who is the pre-eminent Canadian expert on citizens’ assemblies.
So, colleagues, let’s look at why initiate a citizens’ assembly, why on climate and why focussed on youth.
Let me start with the first question: Why a citizens’ assembly?
Last week, I was asked to present the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly at an event in Washington, D.C., hosted by FIDE, the Federation for Innovation in Democracy – North America, entitled “Deliberative State Governance – Citizens’ Assemblies: Putting the Public Back in Public Policy.” Participants were high-level officials from the states of Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Utah and Washington.
Art O’Leary, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission of Ireland, was an important resource person at the event. He had run Ireland’s first citizens’ assembly in 2012 and advised on the five Irish national citizens’ assemblies since then. With assembly themes ranging from same-sex marriage to abortion rights, to climate, Art said that citizens’ assemblies have transformed Ireland. He said citizens’ assemblies are how Ireland gets hard work done. He emphasized that citizens’ assemblies have created an important bridge of trust between Irish citizens and their parliament.
Peter MacLeod of MASS LBP, co-author of the new book Democracy’s Second Act: Why Politics Needs the Public, spoke about the 50 citizens’ assemblies that have taken place in Canada, including a national one on protecting Canadians from online harms and one in B.C. on electoral reform. He spoke to the close to 1,500 citizens’ assemblies around the world — several on climate in France, the U.K., Denmark, Germany, Spain, Estonia, Hungary, Luxembourg and Finland. The cities of Brussels and Milan have created permanent citizens’ assemblies to help guide their local responses to climate challenges. Examples of other assemblies include the Netherlands’ on the future of agriculture, Poland’s on energy poverty, Montenegro’s on corruption and Germany’s on artificial intelligence.
Peter talked about how people in a democracy are capable of more than just marking an X on a ballot every few years. He explained how citizens’ assemblies are healthy for democracy, and they produce well-considered recommendations. They build trust between citizens and their representatives, and they build democratic muscle.
Parliamentarians spend so much of our energy in a reactive posture, with time consumed by lobbyists. Do any of you spend time with lobbyists? In contrast, citizens’ assemblies are a proactive approach by reaching out directly to regular citizens. Assembly members are randomly selected representatives of the public rather than the usual suspects. Finally, they are an effective way to grapple with important but sometimes polarizing issues. You can imagine Ireland with same-sex marriage and abortion.
Now let’s look at why a citizens’ assembly on climate.
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. Climate impacts are increasing and intensifying in Canada, even more so in our Arctic region, and also internationally. Canada is not on track — nowhere near it — to meet our 2030, 2035 or 2050 emissions reduction targets. That is a serious problem. Our non‑U.S. trading partners are rapidly decarbonizing, and it is important for Canada to not be left behind economically.
There is polarization on climate in Canada. Canada’s oil and gas sector is a strong and important contributor to Canada’s economy and to that of certain provinces, while, at the same time, it is Canada’s number one contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions.
Finally, Canada has a new government. We are less than a year into the Forty-fifth Parliament. There should be an opportunity at this point for input on something as important as climate.
Why youth? Why a citizens’ assembly on climate with youth?
One of our central responsibilities — and I think we all know them — as senators is to hear from and bring forward for consideration the interests of under-represented populations. Youth are one such population. Youth voices are critical because young Canadians are the generation whose lives will be most affected by climate change and by climate policies. Also, young Canadians are and will be key players in Canada’s transition to a net-zero-emissions economy. They have so much to offer and a keen drive to play a role.
Speaker Gagné said it well when she addressed the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly members:
. . . your voices aren’t optional. They are essential. And let’s be clear – this is about more than consultation. It’s about real participation. It’s about bringing youth into the legislative process. Not just as advocates, but as partners. . . .
With that background and rationale for the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly, let’s now look at the assembly itself.
Members of the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly were recruited and selected using a civic lottery process. Citizens’ assemblies recruit members by sending invitations by mail to thousands of households at randomly selected postal codes. In this case, 5,000 invitations were mailed out, particularly to rural areas, where we weren’t sure we would get the same level of participation, and because this assembly was targeting 18‑ to 25‑year‑olds, there was also outreach through social media and contacting youth organizations, such as 4‑H, as well as through colleges and universities.
Over 700 young people responded to the invitation. The civic lottery system used randomized sortition to select a final group of 33 young people that broadly reflects our geography and diversity. The goal was to have Canada in the room — and we did.
These young people were asked to answer one central question: What do young Canadians want Parliament to do to meet Canada’s climate commitments in a way that reflects their values and priorities? An 11-member advisory and oversight committee collaborated with the project team to design a curriculum that provided participants with pertinent high-quality information and exposed them to diverse perspectives. The committee consisted of representatives of youth organizations; top climate experts, including academics; private sector individuals, such as the Honourable Lisa Raitt and David McLaughlin, former president and CEO of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.
The assembly members met over three months — from August to October 2025 — for 35 hours during nine sessions, four online and five days right here in Ottawa. They heard from 22 experts and engaged in small group discussions and plenary dialogue. They also learned about tools for democratic fitness, about active listening and about making trade-offs.
Together, the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly members developed an impressive, sophisticated and balanced report that highlights their priorities, outlines principles for parliamentarians and articulates 23 recommendations on preparing for climate risks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and for climate accountability.
Their thoughtful recommendations include wanting parliamentarians to work across party lines to meet climate commitments; building youth voices into decision making; coordinating approaches to emergency preparedness across all levels of government and with Indigenous governments; phasing out public subsidies to the oil and gas sector, with any remaining support tied to clear emissions reduction targets; accelerating the transition to clean electricity across the country; strengthening interprovincial and -territorial grids with connections east-west and north-south; investing in proven green technologies; respecting Indigenous sovereignty and leadership; and expanding relevant mental health supports for Canadians.
The full report is available on the Senators for Climate Solutions website — I encourage you to read it — as is the video.
The crown jewel of this process was the very moving historic moment on September 21, 2025, in this Senate Chamber, when the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly members presented their draft report to the 21 senators and MPs present. Other colleagues watched online. Five other parliamentarians had a chance to interact with the assembly members in Ottawa, including the co-chairs of the House of Commons’ All-Party Climate Caucus.
Their report started with these words:
We are coming to you from the most rugged wilderness of the Northern Territories, the soaring mountains of the West, the golden fields of the Prairies, the rushing rivers of Quebec, the endless windy shores of Atlantic provinces, and everything that’s in between. We are all different, coming from diverse backgrounds, but we all call Canada home.
We’ve experienced first-hand the effects of climate change impacting our childhoods, our education, and our careers and we know not enough is being done.
Youth in Canada are not apathetic. We are ready for the challenge and eager to lead with innovation, openness, and dialogue.
Parliamentarians showed us they are willing to be allies, to listen, and to advocate alongside youth voices.
Honourable colleagues, that high point in the Senate in September wasn’t the end.
The final report of the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly was released on November 6 at the Environmental Leadership Canada’s annual Breakfast on the Hill, which was followed by a press conference.
Twenty members of the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly have now formed a group with the intention of continuing to learn together and follow up with senators — that’s us — and members of Parliament.
Colleagues, the next stage of the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly is really just getting started, and it’s so important to keep and build momentum.
We have a high-quality report produced by dedicated, well-informed young citizens who have a lot of skin in the game. Their stake is significant because of their hard work, contributions and ownership, and because their future is on the line. Our stake is also significant because they have presented us with a golden opportunity to respond and to continue to engage.
Honourable senators, let’s honour and respect the hard work of the members of the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly, and let’s be the parliamentarians they said we are, and this is what they said: the ones who “. . . are willing to be allies, listen and advocate alongside youth voices.”
Thank you, wela’lioq.
Honourable senators, I rise again today to speak to Inquiry No. 11 launched by my colleague Senator Coyle, whom I thank for calling our attention to the final report of the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly.
What I heard from these young Canadians was not ideology but a deeply personal concern for their own future. Climate advocacy is, at times, very difficult and disheartening. However, meeting with young people always reinvigorates me and reminds me of why and for whom I do what I do.
Let me tell you something. I am the oldest of seven children. My youngest brother was mentally handicapped. Very early, I learned that his vulnerability depended on the love and capacity of us, the older siblings, to protect him.
What does it say to the world when a society forgets its most vulnerable members? What does it say when neither society nor its government can protect its future population?
In 1987, the Brundtland Report reminded us that future generations do not vote and cannot challenge our decisions. Almost 40 years later, this observation is still strikingly current. Young people today will have to deal with the extreme impacts of global warming, particularly food insecurity, rising sea levels, displacement and economic losses.
However, they have limited power to influence current policies. This reality goes against the principle of intergenerational justice, which charges us with a duty to act as stewards of the Earth so that we can protect those who will come after us. As the assembly participants reminded us, future generations are stakeholders who are being denied their rights on a permanent basis. Their interests are too often compromised by short-sighted decisions.
At a time when climate action is advancing in some jurisdictions but weakening in others — and I don’t need to tell you the recent developments in the United States — young people are increasingly speaking out and demanding the decisive actions that their future requires.
We must hope this is the beginning of a change. Young environmental advocates are mobilizing worldwide to defend their own rights and those of future generations.
The Fridays for Future movement, sparked by Greta Thunberg, inspired young people around the world.
In Canada, seven youths continue their legal action contesting Ontario’s emissions target on behalf of themselves and those yet to come.
Here in Ottawa, a group of young people gathered together to discuss the future of climate policy in Canada. Their message was clear: Meaningful climate action requires accountability from all major emitters whose activities drive a significant share of emissions.
This assembly shows that young Canadians are informed, their concerns are urgent, and their recommendations are practical. Who has the responsibility to listen and offer help? We do.
Allow me to begin by saying a few words about the credibility and maturity of these young participants. The citizens’ assembly process provided an exceptional opportunity to collectively develop recommendations. It highlighted a particularly useful dynamic for the future youth climate bodies that will soon be set up, if our budget is adopted soon.
It underscores the importance of reliable information, dialogue with experts and democratic deliberation. The means do exist, and so does the capacity. Will we take action? The experiences of young people on the ground bear witness to the impacts of climate change. They are not talking about an abstract threat. They are talking about their own lived reality. They also understand the complexity of our economy and the need for a just transition. Young people know that transforming economic sectors requires time, skills and sustained support.
The scientific consensus is unequivocal. We have exceeded seven of the nine planetary boundaries. Young people understand the systemic nature of the crisis and, for this very reason, they are calling for greater transparency and clear measures. Their analysis is not ideological. It is based on science, evidence and lived and observed experience.
On these issues, we cannot continue to govern by looking — as I said the other day — in the rearview mirror. We need to look forward. It is like driving at high speed on a winding road, watching only where we have been, rather than where we are going.
Young people are right to demand clear benchmarks, comparable measures and decisions that are easy to understand. Stop the rhetoric; stop the theory.
The climate crisis represents a profound break from past patterns, and we must govern with that reality in mind.
They also stress the importance of education, including alternative forms of learning and the development of new skills to counter the spread of misinformation.
Instead of fearing job losses, they call for confidence in practical training, reskilling and sustained support for workers. They further recognize that reducing dependence on fossil fuels will require innovation as well as stronger international cooperation.
At the heart of their concerns is reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and the recognition of the country’s demographic and territorial realities. They call for ongoing participation that reflects both urban and rural contexts and promotes development models that directly benefit communities.
In reality, their concerns reflect those of the broader population and express a shared national interest in safeguarding our planet.
Young people remind us that our decisions today will determine their living conditions down the line. They talk about the damage being caused by extreme climate events, but also about mental health, social cohesion and human safety. Ask your children and grandchildren. I am deeply moved by their comments and their eco-anxiety. Climate disasters are not just environmental events. They affect families, communities and territories. They create anxiety, uncertainty, poverty and ultimately the spiralling grief of feeling abandoned by society and government. We are representatives of the government.
As parliamentarians, we cannot ignore this human aspect.
Future generations have no voice in this chamber. We speak on their behalf. That is precisely what intergenerational responsibility means.
I have four grandchildren. Some know how to speak. Others are still in diapers. It’s very difficult for me to look at their faces when I know that danger is ahead in their futures.
The young people who participated in this assembly are not asking for privileges. They are asking to be treated as full citizens engaged in the country’s shared destiny. They speak not only for themselves, but for communities across every region of Canada. Their message is one of hope but also of urgency. I believe that every one of us in this chamber hopes our legacy will be a world in which future generations breathe clean air, drink fresh water and live with hope rather than in fear.
The assembly came up with many practical recommendations based on a pragmatic, action-oriented vision. Resilience is central to their concerns. They propose regular assessments of climate impacts and their economic consequences to inform decision making, as well as the need to transform land use and adopt sustainable agricultural practices. They stress the need for national and intergovernmental cooperation. Climate disasters require a coordinated, humane response. They underscore the fact that community wellness, especially mental health, depends on adequate resources, robust infrastructures capable of resisting future emergencies, and technological innovation.
In terms of reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector, as Senator Coyle mentioned, their recommendations highlight public transit and electrification.
I recently wrote to the Minister of Transport to point out that current funding still falls short when it comes to fully transitioning certain essential fleets, such as school buses. This issue directly concerns families, since it relates to the daily transportation of children and the quality of the air they breathe.
Climate risks also have far-reaching economic implications. Significant exposure to fossil fuel assets also raises concern for long-term financial security. Several young Canadians have argued before the courts that insufficient management of climate risk could jeopardize their retirement savings that the pension system is meant to protect. Should these assets lose value due to regulatory changes, market developments or legal action, pension funds could be among the most exposed, putting Canadians’ retirement savings at risk.
In 2025, Canadians experienced an unprecedented range of extreme weather events, from nationwide wildfires to severe flooding. As the climate crisis intensifies, such disasters are occurring more frequently. The resulting damage shattered all previous records, with insured losses reaching $9.2 billion in 2024. Yet this figure represents only the tip of the iceberg, as uninsured losses are not fully captured and the burden on the most vulnerable often remains invisible. These risks are not abstract; they directly affect people in their daily lives.
Young people also recommend establishing a Canada-wide grid, stretching from east to west and north to south, powered by renewable sources, as well as improving industrial energy efficiency. They see interprovincial cooperation as an essential tool for enhancing resilience, particularly in a context where our neighbour’s policies can change quickly and without notice.
Beyond infrastructure, young people are calling for environmental governance based on transparency, participation and justice. They want to be informed in advance, contribute meaningfully to decisions that shape their future and have rigorous accountability mechanisms in place.
They also feel very strongly about protecting the populations most exposed to environmental impacts, including young people, Indigenous Peoples, marginalized communities and workers who need to retrain.
Initiatives such as the proposed Youth Climate Corps could demonstrate that when we listen to young people, climate action can also create meaningful employment, strengthen community resilience and equip the next generation with the skills needed for a sustainable future. Their recommendations reflect this broader vision. They call for a truly independent Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and for clear, accessible disclosure of corporate emissions.
They also advocate for an equitable transition that does not place disproportionate costs on consumers. Such a transition should be guided by up-to-date indicators, support independent local media, promote sustainable production in Canada and ensure transparent management of public funds. They further recommend integrating Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge into decision making. Finally, they emphasize inclusion. Citizens, especially young people, must participate in shaping their future.
What is striking, honourable senators, is that while the risks are severe, the solutions are within our reach. This assembly itself demonstrates that many measures already exist, though often fragmented, sometimes underfunded and too rarely coordinated. Our responsibility is to bring them together, strengthen them and act.
Senator Galvez, your speaking time for this debate has expired. Are you asking for one more minute to finish?
Yes, I’m asking for one more minute.
Honourable senators, is leave granted?
Senator Galvez, you may continue.
The youth climate bodies that will be established can become a source of hope and democratic trust. This assembly demonstrates that a genuine willingness to engage in dialogue and collaboration exists.
We have to listen to them, and we have to act. Thank you. Meegwetch.
