Trudeau is courting Gen Z and millennials — even as they turn to rival parties

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says this month's federal budget will focus on helping Gen Z and millennial Canadians — as polls suggest those voters are increasingly turning to opposition parties.

«I think about the people who voted for me for the very first time they ever voted in 2015, and who are now in their mid- to late-20s and struggling,» Trudeau told Matt Galloway.

The Liberal leader said those age groups, born after 1980, are feeling the squeeze on everything from housing to groceries — and are worried about their future.

«That's why we're putting forward a focus on building for them … of restoring fairness for them in a system that, yes, has increasingly gotten stacked against them, not just, you know, in Canada, but around the world.»

Trudeau and several key ministers have been crossing the country making campaign-style announcements ahead of the federal budget on April 16. In recent days they have announced support for renters, and plans to create a national school food program.

A surge in the millennial vote was largely credited with helping Trudeau's Liberals win power in the 2015 federal election. But last month, a survey from Abacus Data found that voters in those younger demographics are leaning decisively towards Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada.

The survey found that 41 per cent of 30-44 year-olds would vote Conservative if the election was held tomorrow, compared to 20 per cent Liberal. For 18-29-year-olds, 34 per cent said they would vote Conservative, compared to 21 per cent leaning Liberal. The Liberals also trail the NDP in both age cohorts. Abacus Data spoke with 3,550 adults across Canada — with an intentional oversampling in Ontario and Alberta — between March 16 and 21.

Younge