Submission in Advance of the 2025 Federal Budget

prajagopalan1
Sep 11
2 min read

Pre-Budget Submission: Building Resilience from the Ground Up

At the end of August, Thrive Youth Development Canada submitted a pre-budget proposal for consideration ahead of the 2025 federal budget. Our message was clear: Canada’s young people are at a crossroads, and the time to act is now.

The Challenge

1 in 6 children live in poverty, with the highest rates among Indigenous, racialized, newcomer, and rural families.
Youth unemployment reached 14.6% this summer, the highest since 2010 outside of the pandemic years.
For students returning to school, unemployment in June was 17.4%, compared to just 10.2% three years earlier.

Behind these numbers are real young people struggling with poverty, social isolation, and declining mental health. Without supports, they risk long-term setbacks including lower earnings, fewer opportunities, and reduced well-being.

Why Co-Curricular Programs Matter

Co-curricular programs, structured, community-led activities like arts, STEM clubs, leadership programs, and makerspaces, offer proven solutions. Research shows they improve graduation rates, build essential social-emotional skills, and strengthen belonging. Just as importantly, they provide safe, engaging alternatives to screen time and social media, helping young people connect face-to-face and build resilience.

What We Recommended

Our submission highlights three priorities:

Create a National Youth Development Fund
Invest in community-led programs that help young people build skills, confidence, and future readiness, especially those in underserved communities. Federal investments should not duplicate education or health services delivered by provinces and territories but complement them by strengthening local supports.
Strengthen the Youth Mental Health Fund Through Co-Curricular Programming
Ensure the new Youth Mental Health Fund supports programs that tackle root causes of anxiety and disconnection, like screen time, social media pressure, and isolation, by providing safe, structured, and engaging environments that foster belonging and resilience.
Recognize Co-Curricular Learning as Essential Social Infrastructure
Treat equitable access to co-curricular opportunities as core to Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, alongside housing, childcare, and income supports. This means ensuring every young person, particularly Indigenous, newcomer, racialized, and rural youth, has access to programs that support success and well-being.

Why Now

Rising poverty, deepening inequities, and youth unemployment threaten the next generation’s potential. At the same time, community organizations across the country are ready with evidence-based, shovel-ready programs that can deliver results.

Because investing in kids today builds stronger, more resilient communities for tomorrow.

Read our full submission here.