Large young voting block could mean more Green seats

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WatchCanadians will be casting their ballots in exactly one month, and just one day after climate change protests were carried out around the globe, some experts say environmental issues could determine who gets in power. Julian Kolsut reports.

With millennials being the largest voting block in the upcoming election, some are predicting there could be more Green wins across the country.

“Every generation finds its issue, and if you were to choose an issue that was going to be animating and activating of youth, climate change is certainly one that would be thought to be considerably effective,” said David Black, Royal Roads University.

Those from the ages of 18 to 38 will make up around  37 per cent of the electorate in October, and Black says their power is something that should not be overlooked.

“In 2015, one could argue it was millennials that won the Liberals the elections; the Liberal vote total increased by 4.2 million, where the Conservative government that was the incumbent roughly stayed the same,” said Black.

“I would not be surprised to see a green wave to appear.”

The impacts could be greatly seen on the Island, in ridings like the one in Victoria.

“What we know of Victoria is that it’s notably young, very progressive, and a demographic that is always open to having its idealism and imagination appealed to,” added Black.

And the major demonstrations this week did not finish Friday, they were leading up to the United Nation’s Climate Action Summit in New York.

This weekend world leaders came together to discuss climate change strategies. Young activists like Greta Thunberg were there voicing their concerns.

Victoria’s mayor Lisa Helps is also there, announcing an exciting initiative that should see 5,000 new trees planted — as part of the United Nations Trees in Cities Initiative

“I’m feeling super excited, it was an honour for Victoria to be invited and I got a letter in July asking if I would participate and did some research,” said Helps from New York.

“It was thrilling to make the commitment and I think our residents love trees, I think our residents are going to have no problem of hitting that target of 5,000.”

Helps is also attending other panels at the summit.

As for the election and a possible green wave, the answer will come in exactly one month.

Julian KolsutJulian Kolsut

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