That half-million dollar subsidy Pichette cites doesn’t square with the reality that young Canadians are graduating with larger and more burdensome sums of student debt, with degrees that are worth less than ever in the job market. At the same time, the cost of living has spiralled out of control, the housing crisis persists, incomes for young workers have stagnated, and unemployment is at its highest in decades outside of the early days of COVID-19. Even young workers with “good” incomes and stable jobs struggle to afford rent, let alone save for homeownership, starting a family or retirement.