How Boomers Wrecked Voting and Politics in Canada
For decades, Baby Boomers have held the political and economic reins of Canada. While their generation benefited from a booming economy, cheap housing, and well-funded public services, they also shaped the political system in ways that now disadvantage younger generations. From outdated electoral systems to self-serving policies, Boomers have played a key role in making Canada’s democracy less representative, less accountable, and more resistant to necessary change.
1. The Electoral System: Stuck in the Past
Boomers inherited Canada’s outdated first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system and have done nothing to modernize it. Instead, they’ve used it to maintain political power and suppress new voices.
FPTP favors older, established parties like the Liberals and Conservatives, making it nearly impossible for smaller or newer parties—often more progressive and representative of younger voters—to gain traction.
Wasted votes: A party can win a “majority” government with as little as 35% of the vote, meaning the majority of Canadians are often governed by a party they didn’t choose.
Resistance to electoral reform: Younger generations overwhelmingly support proportional representation, but Boomers—who make up a large portion of voters—rejected it in multiple referendums, including in B.C., Ontario, and P.E.I.
The result? A system that keeps the same politicians and parties in power, even when most people want change.
2. Boomers Vote, Younger Generations Don’t—And It Shows
One of the biggest reasons Canadian politics favors Boomers is simple: they show up to vote, and younger people don’t.
In the 2019 federal election, 74% of Boomers (55+) voted, compared to just 53% of Millennials (18-34).
Politicians cater to the demographic that votes. That’s why policies favor pensions over affordable housing, tax cuts for retirees over student debt relief, and fossil fuel subsidies over climate action.
Since Boomers vote consistently, politicians prioritize their interests, knowing younger voters—who tend to support more progressive policies—won’t turn out in large enough numbers to challenge them.
3. The Political Status Quo: A Boomer Stronghold
Boomers have dominated Canada’s political landscape for decades, shaping policy to serve their own interests.
Housing: Boomers fought against zoning changes and urban density, fueling a housing crisis that makes homeownership nearly impossible for younger Canadians.
Healthcare: Instead of modernizing the system, Boomers ensured that benefits remain generous for their aging population while failing to prepare for future shortages of doctors, nurses, and hospital capacity.
Immigration & Infrastructure: They welcomed record immigration to sustain economic growth but failed to invest in the infrastructure necessary to support it—leaving younger generations with crowded cities, overburdened transit, and skyrocketing rents.
Boomers benefited from decades of cheap living and strong government support but have refused to update policies to reflect modern economic realities.
4. The Media’s Role in Protecting Boomer Politics
Canada’s media landscape is largely controlled by older generations, shaping political narratives in ways that reinforce Boomer interests.
Fearmongering about change: Media often portrays ideas like wealth taxes, universal basic income, or electoral reform as “radical” despite being mainstream in other developed countries.
Dismissing youth activism: Movements like climate protests and student debt relief campaigns are often framed as “entitled” rather than legitimate demands for a fairer system.
Lack of political diversity in mainstream coverage: The same two or three parties dominate headlines, preventing real discussion of alternative policies that could challenge Boomer-controlled politics.
Younger generations struggle to get their voices heard when traditional media remains focused on older voters’ concerns.
5. The Future: Can Younger Generations Reclaim Politics?
Canada’s political system is rigged in favor of those who built it—the Boomers. But there are ways younger generations can fight back:
Voting in every election: The biggest reason Boomer interests dominate is that they vote. If Millennials and Gen Z turned out at the same rate, political priorities would shift overnight.
Pushing for electoral reform: Proportional representation would force politicians to be more accountable to all voters, not just older, wealthier homeowners.
Running for office & supporting new voices: Younger candidates are more likely to advocate for issues that matter to their generation, from housing reform to climate action.
Boomers shaped Canada’s political landscape to serve their own interests. The question is: will younger generations take it back before it’s too late?
