Hundreds of students gathered in Montreal and Quebec City with the message “Elections: A Trap for Fools” to voice their concerns about the lack of political representation and the upcoming general elections where their age group typically has low voter turnout.
The Coalition de résistance pour l’unité étudiante (CRUES), representing 30,000 members from student associations across Quebec, highlighted issues such as education cuts, institutional conditions, and high living costs. They emphasized that elections can be seen as a limited form of political engagement, advocating for more impactful civic actions like strikes and protests to influence decision-makers.
Sophie Bouchard, CRUES’s head of internal affairs, emphasized the need for citizens to go beyond just voting every four years to make a difference in the political landscape. Despite low voter turnout rates among young people, experts like Isabelle Lacroix noted that this does not necessarily indicate disengagement but rather a dissatisfaction with the current democratic system.
Lacroix suggested that promoting effective democratic processes and acknowledging diverse political demands could help address voter disillusionment. Some individuals consider the Parti NUL as a way to express dissatisfaction with existing political options by voting for a party that reflects their discontent.
