Budget 2026 does little to address affordability for younger generations

The federal budget fails to adequately address affordability challenges facing younger Canadians while directing a disproportionate share of new spending toward seniors, writes Paul Kershaw, a policy professor at UBC and founder of Generation Squeeze. He calls on Ottawa to reform Old Age Security by phasing out benefits more quickly for retirees with household incomes above $100,000, freeing up billions of dollars annually to reduce seniors’ poverty and improve affordability for younger generations. The piece argues that prioritizing government spending based on financial need rather than age would help restore young Canadians’ economic opportunities and confidence in democratic institutions.

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