Federal Liberal incumbent Maryam Monsef says Canadians have two choices this election: Moving backwards or forward.

"That's the choice Canadians have this election," Monsef said during her campaign launch Thursday.

The Peterborough-Kawartha incumbent officially launched her federal campaign at the Team Monsef Campaign Hub at 151 King St.

Monsef spoked to a crowded room of supporters and then former Peterborough Liberal MPP Jeff Leal said a few words.

He introduced Monsef as "one of the most outstanding people in public life today."

Monsef moved to Peterborough from Afghanistan with her mother and sisters when she was a little girl.

The MP calls Peterborough "second to none." She said that's why she chose to represent her community when she first ran in the 2015 federal election.

"I ran because the day that we arrived, Peterborough looked after my family, Peterborough had my back."

Her promise to the community, if elected, was to do the same.

"My promise to Peterborough after I decided to run.is that this was going to be a labour of love and I'm always going to have your back, too."

When elected four years ago, Monsef said the city faced many challenges, including high unemployment rates, climate change denial, children living in poverty and parents struggling to make ends meet.

Since the Liberals took power, Monsef said child poverty rates in Canada have been cut by 40 per cent.

"About 18,000 kids in this community are getting funding through their parents' bank accounts automatically every month - 18,000 children are better off."

Likewise, the unemployment rate has gone from one of the most unemployed cities in the country to being one of the best places to work in Canada, she said.

In closing, Monsef reminded her supporters of the options available to Canadians this federal election.

They can either keep moving forward, growing the economy, lifting people out of poverty, signing trade agreements, fighting climate change and growing the economy with the Liberals or move backwards.

"To a yesterday that is no longer relevant and to become less relevant and less competitive as a country."

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jessica.nyznik

@peterboroughdaily.com