District of North Vancouver council wants to hear from the young folks.
Council voted Monday night for a staff report drawing up terms of reference for a new committee specifically for young people to advise council.
The district has advisory committees that give council guidance on various issues, but none are dedicated to the needs of up and coming generations, said Coun. Jordan Back, who brought the motion forward.
Back suggested housing affordability, employment, transportation and climate change are of particular concern to younger demographics.
“Our job is to represent people of all ages, and we regularly make decisions that affect how we shape our cities, and I would argue it's often the younger citizens who will be most directly impacted,” he said. “Very often, these are the voices that we hear from the least.”
Back’s motion passed unanimously but not without some quibbles.
Mayor Mike Little defended the municipality as an approachable place for young people, noting he started volunteering on committees and was first elected to council in his 20s, and the district always welcomes the participation of young voices.
“I'm always a little bit puzzled when people say that youth don't feel welcome into things when I see examples all over the place on our committees, actively engaging young people in welcoming them,” he said.
