Intergenerational Fairness Day Has Arrived

Join in marking the first worldwide day of action

Today, November 16, 2023 marks the first-ever worldwide day of action on intergenerational fairness. It’s not too late to register for our inaugural community call at 11 am PST/2 pm EST today to learn how you can support the global movement for a fairer future where all generations can thrive.

The urgent need to reverse the deteriorating wellbeing of younger and future generations stretches beyond Canada. Voices from the US, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Japan, Nigeria, and Australia, as well as United Nations Foundation Next Generation Fellows, have joined together to call on governments to preserve what is sacred – a healthy childhood, home, and planet – so that we can all be proud of the legacy we leave for those who follow. 

Generational fairness means young and old alike have the chance to thrive, while being good ancestors to those who follow in their footsteps. Generations care for one another within families and strive to create a better future for their kids and grandkids. We're calling for the same intergenerational solidarity and long-term planning from our governments. 

International partners agree that governments around the world focus on solving short-term problems with little regard for long-term sustainability, whether it be natural resources, government spending, or investment in the futures of younger and future generations. These actions violate the intergenerational golden rule: treat other generations as you want your own to be treated. 

Today, younger Canadians are struggling to afford housing, raise families, and cope with an increasingly unpredictable climate. The reasons for this have less to do with the failings of younger people, than their treatment by older ones through policies made years ago. For several decades, governments made short-sighted policy decisions that are now eroding Canada's promise to younger and future generations. This harm wasn’t intentional, yet we failed to change course once the risks became clear and predictable. 

To mark Intergenerational Fairness Day, we’re calling on the Government of Canada to create a federal Task Force on Generational Fairness to tackle the root causes of many policy crises today, and restore Canada’s fading promise for younger and future generations. The Task Force will shine a light on readily available solutions, and hold Canadians and their governments accountable for implementing them. 

Gen Squeeze founder & UBC policy professor Paul Kershaw is on Parliament Hill today to meet with key officials about the Task Force, and why it’s an important step for Canada to take on this global day of action. We’re also holding a press conference at Ottawa’s National Press Theatre, to bring Canada-wide attention to intergenerational fairness and the role a Task Force can play in fixing it. You can tune in for the livestream on our X and Facebook feeds starting at 8:30 am ET. Or for westerners who don’t want to get up quite that early, a recording will be available on our website after the event.

A Task Force is the tool we need to clean up past policy messes and make sure new policies help people of all ages thrive, today and for generations to come. We hope you’ll lend your voice to support this call. A bigger choir will help to make sure that our elected representatives get in harmony with the urgent need to restore Canada’s promise to younger and future generations, and repair the legacy we’re leaving to our kids and grandkids.   

In the coming weeks, our podcast will be highlighting what some other countries around the world are doing to advance intergenerational fairness. Leaders from the Intergenerational Fairness Day coalition will be joining us to talk about the challenges we share, and what we can learn from each other on tactics and solutions. Following the example of our earlier inspiring podcast with Wales Future Generations Commissioner Derek Walker, stay tuned for episodes with generational fairness champions in Australia, the UK and the US.

For more inspiration and insights into our growing global movement, our international coalition is also launching the Intergenerational Fairness Day podcast (available on Apple, Spotify, Google, and more), as well as kicking off a blog series for the UK’s Intergenerational Foundation.

Thanks for reading. We hope to see you later today on the call!