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The World Economic Forum recently brought together young leaders from around the world under its Global Shapers Community program to talk about the participation of millennials in government.

I was part of that discussion, which reaffirmed how important it is for Canada to attract the best of this next generation to public service. This generation is among the most talented, educated and globally connected ever.

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While some of the experiences and expectations of these young people are unique to their cohort, they have much in common with Canadian workers of all ages and backgrounds: They are looking for a way to make a difference – be it at the local, national or global level. While young people can make a difference through an NGO or in the private sector, a same smart, talented, idealistic young person can change the world through public service, given the right tools.

However, instead of bringing in more young Canadians to help address the challenges of an aging workforce, the average age of a new recruit has crept up. The federal public service must innovate to attract more young people. We need less rigid hierarchies, fewer layers of bureaucracy, more open and transparent decision-making, a culture of intelligent risk-taking, more opportunity for continuous learning, and greater mobility in and out of government.