Canada needs a Mandatory National Youth Service - NOW

Today’s generation of youth are less engaged in their communities, as they evolve into young adulthood they take on fewer responsibilities in the community. For whatever reason(s), youth do not have the same sense of ownership or pride in their communities/country as previous generations of Canadians, which does not serve them or their community well in the long run.


While some individuals embrace every opportunity to get involved, believing in Canada and its timeless values, many in the upcoming generation are content to neglect their civic responsibilities while demanding equal or great ‘rights’ be met. The long run effects of this shift are yet to be realized, but the short-term implications are already being felt; apathy and dis-engagement towards the political process and institutions/organizations (community leagues, NGOs, religious communities, etc.) which have long fill the gaps in government programs and services. These institutions are vital to a healthy society and the long run effect will be the exacerbated result of an already disconnected youth.

Our country needs to think big again – it needs to believe in itself, it needs to be innovative in how it brings up its youth. It needs to do something that will bring the country together, build up our youth, enhance civic responsibility, and weave together the diverse influences that make this country great. What Canada needs is a mandatory National Youth Service.

A National Youth Service that is mandatory would enable every Canadian upon high-school graduation the opportunity to engage in 12-18 months of national service in another part of the country. The program would involve civic education, personal development (vocational & social), public service (in the sectors such as education, health, military, conservation for example), and would force young Canadians to get off their butts and off their cultural islands for a period of time to learn from their peers and elders from across the country. Additionally, Anglophones would partake in French language training while Francophones would partake English language training, while all youth would have the option of learning a First Nations dialect. If it was voluntary, only the keeners would get involved (as is currently the case), and for the the other 80% of youth it would be business as usual. Tommy Douglas isn't remembered for public health care because he made public health care voluntary (that would have made it multi-tiered health care) - he is remember for public health care because every Canadian had to participate in it. And damnit, Canada is better for it now. That's the kind of vision that is needed, and Canada would be better with a national mandatory youth service in place.

Young Canadians would develop relationships with young Canadians from all cultural backgrounds, and be exposed to the Canadian story in full. All the while, they would be developing skills which may assist them in their search for their future occupation(s), while contributing to vital services (such as health care or military) that enhance the quality of life for all Canadians. Young Canadians finishing their national service would be better prepared to make the most of post-secondary learning/vocational opportunities, and would be instilled with perspective about Canada that would stay with them and their children the rest of their life.

Countries such as Germany and Israel continue to have a national youth service which undoubtedly prepares their upcoming generations to be successful (their countries’ overall success are then an extension of personal success). A recent New York Times article by Yer Gunn (How Did Israel Become A “Start-Up Nation”? December 4, 2009) attributed Israel’s three-year youth program as being largely responsibility for the countries economic success. The German experience has demonstrated similar outcomes. While both countries have successful programs, such a program in Canada would naturally need to be made and designed in Canada.

In order for Canada to come together as a country, it needs to think boldy about the future of its young people, about how to weave together the diversity of this country, while setting the nation on a path for success. Anything short of this will leave the country at a severe global disadvantage (notwithstanding hockey), For Canada to takes its place in the world, it must be a nation with the most educated workforce, the highest quality of public services, and above all be instilled with the spirit of national unity, innovation and international competitiveness.

The next steps should include some rigid socio-economic research into successful and unsuccessful (Nicaragua & Colombia) examples of such a program. Furthermore, politicians across party-lines should begin a high-scope national conversation in each region of the country about the merits of such a program (kudos to J. Trudeau for beginning such a process). The next steps following those two actions would come from the feedback of Canadians and from the results of socio-economic research.