QUESTION PERIOD — Employment and Social Development
Youth Employment
April 22, 2026
Senator Moreau, as the end of the school year approaches, young students have a bleak challenge finding a summer job, and those who are graduating permanently from school are facing the worst job market for young people in the history of this country dating back to the 1990s. We’ve had 10 years of bad economic policies by the Liberal government, which has resulted in a situation where young Canadians feel hopeless. They can’t buy homes. They can’t rent apartments.
We have a situation where the data is clear: 14% unemployment amongst young people. That’s double the national average. The employment rate, as I have said, is at the lowest level we’ve seen in many decades.
Why is it, Senator Moreau, that young Canadians are losing hope in this once great country? They’re losing hope in their institutions, and are seeing, for the first time, a bleak, bleak future. That was something that was unheard of just a few years ago.
There are many parts of your question with which I totally disagree.
First, we’re making unprecedented investments to ensure that young Canadians can afford a house or rent.
In a previous Question Period, Senator Cardozo asked many questions about youth employment. The government is committed to improving youth employment, and we are actually working on it. I remember that his question specifically addressed summer jobs for youth. We’re working on it. The government is committed to improving the economy in order to benefit every Canadian, including our young Canadians.
You’re not working on it fast enough because any single statistic you look at over the last couple of weeks has youth unemployment in this country anywhere from 15% to as high as 20.8%. That’s unacceptable. These are the types of unemployment rates we would expect from underdeveloped countries when it comes to youth employment.
We have an economic statement that we’re expecting from the government over the next couple of weeks. Will that statement have something specific to give some hope to young Canadians, or will it mean more taxes and spending and the discouragement of economic growth?
The facts are very different from the description you’re giving, Senator Housakos. Total employment is up by 148,000 jobs over the last year, with 149,000 more full‑time jobs.
The government is creating good jobs and careers for every Canadian, and we’re working on jobs for young Canadians as well. Implementing the Strategic Response Fund and the Work‑Sharing Program to protect our workers against adversarial U.S. policies —
Thank you, Senator Moreau.
