Canada's Aging Population Shifts Voting Priorities

Tobi Lutke's suggestion that pensioners be excluded from voting sparked controversy. The Shopify co-founder argued that retirees no longer have a stake in the economy and should not be able to vote on its future.

However, experts warn that an aging population is changing the dynamics of politics, with elderly voters increasingly prioritizing pocketbook issues over sociotropic concerns like economic growth.

A 2026 study by Oxford University's Tim Vlandas found that seniors are less likely to punish governments with a poor economic track record and more likely to reward those that increase financial support for older citizens.