Opinion: Young people are shunning politics. That needs to change

In our parliament, around three per cent of the MPs are 30 or younger. Making matters worse, all too many young Canadians are giving politics a pass as a career.

I am deeply concerned about this trend, and that’s why I decided to write a book in an effort to try to encourage more of our fellow citizens to consider a life of public service. Pursuing a Public Life is also a guide to show Canadians how they can enter, serve and survive in the political arena — from nominations to campaigning to governing.

I truly enjoyed putting pen to paper. In the process, I relived many fond memories, including the people I met, the colleagues I worked with, the constituents I served, the issues I worked on, the travels across our vast country, and the charm of diplomacy in Geneva.

As the son of Italian