By Radha Agarwal
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A newly formed youth advocacy organization is aiming to change the landscape of British Columbia's municipal elections by backing local candidates who prioritize the needs of young voters.

Young British Columbians for Better Governance is a non-profit that recently launched a two-year plan to increase youth voter registration, recruit campaign volunteers and develop practical policy solutions.

Edward Yuan, VP of the society, explains that while federal and provincial politics often dominate the conversation, the group believes local government has a very immediate impact on daily life.

“The issues young people raise — including housing, affordability, transportation, employment, climate resilience, recreation and access to services — are directly connected to decisions made by local and provincial governments,” Yuan added. “Young British Columbians should be ongoing partners in making those decisions.”

Yuan helped start the initiative alongside president Jonah van Driesum and some peers who recognized that young people are a powerful voting block federally but remain largely disengaged at the municipal level.

In Delta, the group has officially endorsed Dylan Kruger for mayor, citing a shared vision for smart planning and regional infrastructure.

This decision also considers the candidate's willingness to be ongoing partners and consult with young people in the future, says the group.

Yuan pointed out that delaying major infrastructure projects previously created bottlenecks later.

He noted that if the region had started building a new tunnel a decade ago, the project would already be completed and generating economic growth rather than just getting started today.

A major concern for youth in Delta is geographic isolation and poor transit connectivity between North Delta, Ladner and Tsawwassen.

Yuan explained that the lack of reliable internal transit forces many young residents to leave the community to socialize.

“I like staying local,” Yuan said. “But it can be a little bit difficult, admittedly, for trying to plan things out with friends.”

He says it's tough for people in North Delta, Ladner, and Tsawwassen to get together without a car.

As a master's student in public policy and global affairs at the University of British Columbia, Yuan spends roughly two hours each way transiting from Delta.

Housing affordability is also a serious issue for the group.

Yuan noted some of his peers live at home out of financial necessity rather than a lifestyle choice.

Without affordable housing or reliable transit to keep them connected, young people in Delta are finding their social lives restricted and their ability to build an independent future severely compromised.

“We want people to be able to see themselves having a future here, building a life,” he said.

The society has also announced a growing list of endorsements across the province, throwing its support behind candidates like Surrey councillor William Li, Maple Ridge mayor Dan Ruimy, Langley Township councillor Shumail Javed, Saanich councillors Susan Brice and Harjas Singh Popli, and Parksville mayor Sean Wood, among others.

Following the fall elections, the society plans to shift its focus toward fundraising and localized policy research.

Yuan emphasized that they intend to track where donations originate to ensure funds raised in Delta go toward investigating issues specific to the municipality, rather than subsidizing research for larger cities.