Michael Burns explains how it could work.

The program would right now be open to those that are 18 to 25.

At 18, Canadians would register like they do for other government benefits to be put into a database where they could apply for national service.

It would be not mandatory, but voluntary and selective.

And what I mean by that is that young people would apply.

They would go through a competitive process and We're really going to have an opportunity to pick the most motivated Canadians between the ages of 18 and 25 who want to participate.

If they're selected, the idea is that they would go through what we describe as a shared experience.

But there's also a larger question about who gets to participate and what happens when young people from very different parts of the country have the opportunity to work alongside one another.