U-Report Results

COVID-19

We reached out to U-Reporters to get a pulse check on how they are being impacted by COVID-19 and the control measures in place. They answered questions about how they're getting information and support, and how they're experiencing and coping with the pandemic.

BULLYING

At least one in three young people in Canada are directly affected by bullying. We asked U-Reporters to share their views on bullying, how it can be prevented and responded to, and how to support victims. While most said they don’t tolerate bullying and felt they could respond to it, they also agreed that schools and adults should play a stronger role in preventing bullying. With the rise of cyber bullying, many emphasized the importance of emotional and mental support from school and peers.

CANADA WE WANT

In March 2020, the Student’s Commission of Canada hosted their annual #CanadaWeWant conference, bringing together 150 young people from across the country to discuss what they want for the future of Canada. We asked U-Reporters a few questions about the Canada they want to see, and the opportunities they have access to. Respondents shared concerns about issues like climate change, equality, and inclusivity in the future, but overall were optimistic about creating positive change in Canada.

MENTAL HEALTH

According to the Canadian Index of Child and Youth Well-being, 10.5% of young people struggle with their mental health. In this poll, U-Reporters answered questions about managing mental health challenges and getting support. Respondents agreed that mental health issues are still stigmatized, and that this can be a barrier to getting support. Many felt that schools and communities needed better support for people dealing with mental health challenges, and that adults should take young people’s mental health more seriously.

Climate Change

In our final poll from 2019, climate change was the leading topic U-Reporters told us they would like to discuss this year. According to the Canadian Pediatric Society, climate change is the single, largest global health threat of the 21st century. We asked U-Reporters a few questions about climate change and how it impacts their life.

Newcomer and Immigration

This poll was created to understand young people’s views on immigration here in Canada. Young people had many ideas about why people immigrate to Canada. Most common was to be safe, and for a better life. Respondents mentioned many times that there should be more English classes for immigrants, but also mentioned the need for more programs and better supports all around.

Child Rights

We ran this poll to compare results from last year to this year, and see if young people were any more aware of their rights since 2018.

Federal Election

We created this poll to better understand young people’s perspectives on the 2019 federal election. Questions from this poll were developed based on a poll we had also asked adult Canadians.

Then, we created this poll to understand how young people feel about the results of the 2019 federal election.

This is Canada

This poll was created in collaboration with The Student's Commission of Canada to gather youth knowledge on the history of Canada. Young people feel that things such as Indigenous history, Asian Canadian history, LGBTQ2S+ history and Black history are all missing from what they have learned about Canada's history.

Gender Equality

This poll was created in collaboration with the Student's Commission of Canada.  It was created to understand how gender equality impacts young people's every day lives. Young people noted sexual harassment, work/careers, and pay as a few of the ways that they feel the effects of gender.

EDUCATION

This poll was created to help understand how young people feel about the current education system, and their opinions surrounding policy issues related to education in Canada. We saw that young people really want to learn more life skills in school, especially how to “adult”. 

Employment

Young people in Alberta and Ontario get paid a student minimum wage when they are under the age of 18. In Ontario it is ¢.75 less and in Alberta it is $2 less than general minimum wage. We asked U-Reporters what they think about getting paid less, how prepared they are to find employment, and how easy it is to find employment as a young person.

UNPLUG TO CONNECT

Unplug to Connect happened on June 7th. It is a day organized by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada to invite you to unplug from devices and connect with people around you, but you can do that any time, too. UNICEF Canada, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and Kids Help Phone created this poll. We asked U-Reporters some questions about how they are experiencing and using technology in their day-to-day lives. 

PRIDE

According to the World Health Organization, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals often face high rates of physical and mental health issues and reduced access to medical and social services. We asked U-Reporters a few questions about pride, what it means to then, and how it affects them. These questions were developed with the Students Commission of Canada’s youth group.

RECONCILIATION

This poll was co-developed with First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and YMCA Canada. We asked U-Reporters about their understanding of Indigenous history and reconciliation. U-Reporters have a wide variety of definitions of reconciliation, and would like to see the government offering more support, better education, and more respect on working towards reconciliation. 

NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY

Young people make up 1/3 of the Canadian population. The federal government recently the first ever National Youth Policy; a framework to help improve the lives of youth in Canada. It includes a commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for youth voices to be heard, and programs like Canada Service Corps to encourage and support youth to volunteer. U-Reporters felt that the government lacks in mental health services, post secondary accessibility programs and employment services. This poll was co-developed with the Students Commission of Canada to better understand if young people are aware of and understand the impacts of this policy.   

CLIMATE CHANGE

Research is showing that Canada is warming much faster than the rest of the world. Young people have been speaking up on climate change and calling on government leaders to do more to combat climate change. We asked U-Reporters 11 questions to better understand how climate change is impacting their lives. U-Reporters were especially concerned about the affects climate change has on weather and air quality but have a variety of ways they are taking action to improve the environment. Here is what else they had to say... 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

We asked U-Reporters five questions to help us understand the barriers and motivations to being physically active. Here is what they had to say…  

FEDERAL BUDGET

The federal government released their budget on how they are going to spend money on programs and services. It includes new investments in children and youth. When we asked U-Reporters what the government was missing in this budget, they told us they wanted to see more support for youth and more for their future including more affordable housing and education. Here is what else they had to say…  

YOUTH BELONGING

We asked U-Reporters a couple questions to better understand what makes young people feel like they belong in their families and in Canadian society. U-Reporters told us that feeling safe plays a big role in their sense of belonging. Here are some other things we heard...