NDP Launches OSER Virtual Tour to Support Young People

MONTREAL – Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, along with Alexandre Boulerice, Deputy Leader and MP for Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, launched the OSER (dare) virtual tour, a campaign aimed at reaching out to young people and young families in Quebec to understand what is worrying them and to propose solutions to help them. The pandemic has affected everyone, but it has been even more devastating for young people. If no action is taken, they may continue to suffer for years after the pandemic has ended.

"Young people need their government to act. If we don't act now, they will suffer the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for many years to come," says Singh. "Many experts point out that after the 2008 financial crisis, younger generations took longer to recover than other age groups. We must not repeat the same mistakes. I want to listen to them and propose solutions that can be implemented immediately to help young people. We must dare to act now."

Young people and young families were already facing a housing crisis and an ever-increasing cost of living while wages stood still. In addition to worsening these problems, the pandemic has caused some young people's incomes to drop drastically. It is also much more difficult for them to enter or re-enter the job market. Like all Canadians, they face some of the most expensive cell phone and Internet services in the world while the country's major telecommunications companies line their pockets. Young people have also seen their mental health impacted by COVID-19 and when they try to get help, they can't always get it.

"From the beginning, the Liberals have only wanted to do the bare minimum and on top of that, they cut off help for young people by stopping the moratorium on student loan repayments just before the second wave," says Boulerice. "With this budget, Justin Trudeau can act to make a difference in the lives of young people and young families. New Democrats will fight to bring down the price of rent; to provide free access to mental health services for young people and to bring down the price of cell phone and Internet services once and for all."

Young people deserve better: let's dare to help them.