Have your say – Second State of Youth Report

What is the second State of Youth Report?

The State of Youth Report is a snapshot of what life is like for young people in Canada. It’s based on feedback from youth across the country about the issues that matter most to them.

The first State of Youth Report was published in 2021, and the second will be published in 2025.

The report gives youth in Canada a voice, helping shape policies and programs that affect their lives. It also helps the Government of Canada understand the challenges youth face, from finding jobs to accessing mental health support, and outlines steps to create better opportunities for the future.

By reflecting the diverse experiences and concerns of youth, the State of Youth Report plays a vital role in building a more inclusive, equitable and supportive Canada for all young people.

Why are we asking for youth views?

The first State of Youth Report highlights six key areas that young people in Canada identified as their priorities:

• Truth and reconciliation
• Environment and climate action
• Health and wellness
• Leadership and impact
• Employment
• Innovation, skills and learning

This questionnaire is a key step in creating the second State of Youth Report.

• We want to ensure that young people across Canada have the chance to share their experiences, challenges and priorities so that the report accurately reflects what matters most to youth.
• We want to reach youth from various backgrounds, including Indigenous youth, racialized youth, 2SLGBTQI+ youth, youth with disabilities and youth in rural communities, so that the report represents the full diversity of experiences.
• We want to understand new and evolving challenges that young people are facing since the first report, such as changes in the job market, mental health, climate concerns and more.
• We are committed to using the questionnaire results to inform federal policies and programs, ensuring they align with the current needs and aspirations of youth in Canada.
• We want to foster a sense of ownership among youth by involving them in shaping the policies and actions that will affect their future.

Your voice matters!

How does the questionnaire work?

In this questionnaire, you will find information from Canada’s Youth Policy and Budget 2024. This information will help guide you in crafting your answers. Your uniqueness is Canada’s strength. Multiple perspectives strengthen decision-making and policy development by encouraging innovation, creativity and positive change.

Technical Information

• Responses will be kept confidential and will be presented in aggregate form only.
• After data collection is complete, your survey data will only be stored in a secure Canadian Heritage SharePoint folder and on secure domestic servers held by The Students Commission of Canada.
• Ten Canadian Heritage researchers will have access to the full survey dataset as well as 4 employees of The Students Commission of Canada, and it is their job to ensure any identifying information is removed or protected.
• All written responses will be reviewed to ensure that no one has identified themselves. Identifying information will be redacted from these responses prior to reporting. To aid our efforts, you will be asked not to include personal information about yourself or others in your written responses.
• Final results will be carefully screened before release to prevent statistics from being used to derive information about individuals.
• Your data is protected by the Privacy Act, which obligates the Policy Research Group to handle your personal information in the manner outlined here.

If you want to learn more about the engagement tool, or if you are unable to access or complete it electronically, please send an email to jeunesse-youth@pch.gc.ca.

Privacy Notice

The collection of personal information is authorized by section 4(2) of the Department of Canadian Heritage Act  and section 9 of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act is required to conduct the Have your say – Second State of Youth Report survey. The State of Youth report provides a snapshot of how youths in Canada are doing and is committed to address diverse and vulnerable youth populations, while celebrating intersectionality in their identities. The results also help inform government policies, programs and decisions to better support youth in Canada. Collection and use of this personal information are in accordance with the Privacy Act. The information collected will be used for analysis, statistical, and reporting purposes. Disaggregated data will be shared with members of the Federal Youth Secretariat to develop Second State of the Youth Report. The Students Commission of Canada will also have access to data that has not been anonymized for the purpose of analysis. The personal information collected is described in Personal Information Bank PSU 942 – Evaluation and will be retained for 6 years. This survey is voluntary and there will be no consequences if you do not provide the requested information. Under the Privacy Act you have the right of access to, and correction of, your personal information. To exercise either of these rights, contact Canadian Heritage’s ATIP Coordinator by email at aiprp-atip@pch.gc.ca. If you are not satisfied with Canadian Heritage’s response to your privacy concern, you may wish to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada by telephone at 1-800-282-1376.