2026 Semaine des maisons des jeunes - Teenagers want elected representatives to take their views seriously

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 12, 2026 /CNW/ -- As a new legislature begins sitting in Québec, teenagers have a clear message for elected officials: they want to be listened to, taken seriously and involved in the decisions that affect them.

This is the finding of a survey of young people who frequent Québec's youth centres. The survey results were announced today by the Regroupement des maisons des jeunes du Québec (Québec youth centres association, or RMJQ) to mark the 29th edition of the Semaine des maisons des jeunes (youth centres week), taking place October 12-18 with the theme ACTION! Ados: acteurs et actrices de société (ACTION! Teens: agents of social change).

The survey findings show that young people do not simply want to be consulted: they want to have a genuine say in the decisions that will shape their daily and future lives. In fact, nearly half of those surveyed (41.3%) feel that adults and elected representatives listen to them very little, not really, or not at all. When asked how decision-makers could engage more closely with them, the overwhelming majority of respondents gave a simple answer: come and meet us directly at our youth centres!

"Even though they don't yet have the right to vote, teenagers are not just the citizens of tomorrow, they are active participants in our society, directly affected by the decisions taken today, yet their voices are still too often ignored in decisions that affect them," explains RMJQ Executive Director Nicholas Legault. He adds: "In the wake of the elections, we urge the newly elected officials to reach out to them, listen to them and, above all, take what they have to say seriously."

Concerns that very much affect their daily lives

Mental health topped the list when the young people were asked what issues elected representatives should prioritize (48.6%), followed by bullying and cyberbullying (34.5%) and education (32.4%). Their frank responses also highlight specific demands: more mental health resources, more action against bullying, schools better suited to their realities, more places to get together, and better support for youth centres.

Beyond these measures, one observation stands out: young people are also calling for a change in the way adults view them. They want to be recognized as individuals capable of thinking for themselves, contributing to debates and participating in the decisions that affect them.

Youth centres: arenas of democracy

The survey results also show that youth centres are already playing a tangible role in fostering citizen engagement, while also serving as places for learning about democracy. Moreover, 92.5% of respondents state that their youth centre helps them to express their opinion, 90.5% to build their self-confidence, 88.4% to get involved in their neighbourhood or community, and 87% to better understand what is happening in society. Furthermore, 95.2% say that their youth centre helps them to respect different opinions.

This engagement is directly reflected in the functioning of the youth centres, where young people can, among other things, help plan activities, organize events or projects, take part in decision-making, and even sit on their centre's board of directors.

"Youth centres are places where young people learn to exercise their citizenship," Mr. Legault adds. "However, to enable them to continue to fully play this role, youth centres must be able to rely on stable funding appropriate to their mission. Supporting youth centres means investing directly in the empowerment, well-being and future of young people throughout Québec."

About the RMJQ

Youth centres support teenagers on their journey to becoming critically-minded, active and responsible citizens. They provide a space for dialogue and social interaction that fosters the fulfilment of their full potential. The RMJQ supports the development of more than 250 youth centres in nearly 340 communities across Québec. In collaboration with its members, it defends young people's rights and helps them develop their capacity for action, while also providing them with enriching and stimulating experiences.

Watch the video (in French) about the Semaine des maisons des jeunes here.

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SOURCE Regroupement des maisons des jeunes du Québec

Information and interview requests: Ariane Boulé, [email protected] / 514 797-5915, Morin Relations Publiques