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Samara notes that voting turnout varies dramatically by age category. In 2011, only 38.8 per cent of voters aged 18 to 24 cast a ballot, compared to 71.5 per cent of those aged 55 to 64. Loat said that young people traditionally were less likely to vote. But now, young people are remaining detached and are not voting even as they grow older.

“What that means is we are socializing people to just tune out completely from politics and from their democracy.”

Diversity in the House of Commons



The face of Canada is not reflected in Parliament. Some examples: Visible minorities constitute 19 per cent of the Canadian population but only nine per cent of MPs; women constitute 51 per cent of the population, but only 25 per cent of the Commons.

Faith and trust in politics



Only 40 per cent of Canadians trust their MPs to do “what’s right.” Furthermore, 62 per cent believe that candidates and parties “only want their vote.”

Samara says this suggests Canadians think politicians aren’t interested in “real engagement in dialogue.”

“If public levels of trust in MPs and their organizing bodies – parties – remains low, the legitimacy of government is undermined,” says the report. “And decisions taken by government will be difficult to implement and possibly even ignored.”

The report also found that only 31 per cent of Canadians believe decisions made by elected officials affect them “every day.”

This low number suggests that Canadians “aren’t connecting public services to political decisions,” says the report.

Samara also found that only 54 per cent of Canadians believe that the work and decisions of MPs “influence the direction of the country.” Loat said that this perception likely comes in part from how political leaders and their parties exercise so much control over MPs.

“When you have MPs who are content just to repeat talking points and not speak directly from the heart, then I think that does propagate the view they are really just there to be puppets for the party.”