The winds of change can bring a new start, a fresh focus. We believe it’s time for such change in Ottawa. With the Oct. 19 federal election Monday, we are endorsing change — at both the national and local level.

Nationally, Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau has become symbolic of a fresh approach.

Conversely, Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper has had three mandates as Prime Minister and yet his party’s campaign is not rooted on its record.

Rather than using this historically-long campaign to focus primarily on issues that matter to Canadians — jobs, the economy, and the environment — the Conservatives have instead dragged out their tired repertoire of endless attack ads, sprinkled with a heavy dose of fear mongering on everything from terrorism, to refugees, and the niqab.

Somewhere during the Conservatives’ time in office, the fact our federal government exists to serve all Canadians — including those struggling to get by — seems to have been lost. We believe new tactics are needed to boost our languishing economy — one in which Ontario has become a have-not province, people are struggling to hang onto jobs, investment offers few returns, costs keep climbing, businesses continue cutting and the spectre of a growing seniors population, and the demands it will bring, is looming ever larger daily while many young people remain unemployed.

Health care, too, needs attention. Many don’t have a family doctor, prescription medication is out-of-reach for many and mental health issues are mushrooming.

Locally, Oakville incumbent Terence Young has heralded federal investment into the community and led the charge on prescription drug regulation through Vanessa’s Law. Still, Oakville constituents would not be shortchanged on the health care front should Liberal John Oliver, former CEO and president of Halton Healthcare Services, take the ballot.

Health care and prescription drug accessibility and affordability are high on Oliver’s radar.

Inclusiveness is the Canadian way forward and in the new Oakville North—Burlington riding, Liberal Pam Damoff has proved herself to be a community champion and dedicated local politician, who would represent her Burlington and north Oakville constituents well.

While Damoff has been a familiar face on the local level for many years, Conservative Effie Triantafilopoulos has recently moved to Oakville after having thrown her hat in the ring of provincial politics in Mississauga.