The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Pa ge 6 T hu rs da y, O ct ob er 2 2, 2 01 5 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a The people have spoken Letters to the editor 905-873-0301 Publisher: Dana Robbins General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca, 905-234-1011) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca, 905-234-1012) Managing editor: Chris Vernon (cvernon@metroland.com, 905-234-1020) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca, 905-234-1019) Classifieds/Real Estate Kristie Pells (realestate@theifp.ca, 905-234-1016) Advertising Sales Jenny Hawkins (jhawkins@theifp.ca, 905-234-1014) Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@theifp.ca, 905-234-1013) Rachael Scutt (rscutt@theifp.ca, 905-234-1015) Kelli Kosonic (kkosonic@theifp.ca, 905-234-1018) Classified Call Centre 1-800-263-6480, Fax 1-866-299-1499 classifieds@metroland.com Accounting 1-866-773-6575 Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca, 905-234-1021) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/photographer (emaher@theifp.ca, 905-234-1023) Production Shelli Harrison (sharrison@theifp.ca 905-234-1017) Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox by signing up for our twice weekly electronic newsletter. Go to www.theifp.ca and click on 'Newsletter sign-up' at the bottom of the homepage. The people have spoken and in a democracy they are never wrong. The Liberals have finally captured their majority government in Monday's federal election with the Conservatives taking the throne as official opposi- tion. The Conservatives were handed a devastating defeat and the political landscape has changed im- mensely in Canada. Monday's election was truly historic. Locally, Conservative Michael Chong retained his Wellington-Halton Hills seat. At the local level Chong has served well, but we wonder how much good he will do sitting in the Opposition. It's too bad because Chong has shown he can be a progressive thought leader. This past term, he finally managed to get approv- al for his Private Member's Bill-- The Reform Act bill -- which gives local MPs greater ability to rep- resent their constituents' views and rules on better decorum in the House of Commons. If the Conser- vatives had more progressive leaders at the top like Chong their party would still be in power. However, the Conservatives need more than a new leader. It's time they take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. It's time for the Tories to examine what it means to be a Conservative in this day and age. Canada's national balance of power has been redrawn and the Liberals have their majority, and they should use it with care. "It's time for change in this country my friends," said Justin Trudeau after his stunning Liberal vic- tory Monday night. The results mean that Trudeau, a 43-year-old fa- ther of three, will become Canada's next prime min- ister, following in the footsteps of his famous father Pierre Trudeau, who served as prime minister for 16 years before retiring in 1984. We hope Trudeau's unifying vision that he tout- ed throughout the campaign includes respect for middle class taxpayers and a solid plan to get the economy moving. This should be priority No. 1 for his fresh-faced Cabinet, especially considering the U.S. economy is outperforming ours. He better deliver on jobs because he will surely face a re-energized Conservative party in four years. OPINION I just had a chance to read the article on the final piece of the Norval Secondary Plan. This thought is not an endorsement or condemnation of the plan, however, I was somewhat puzzled that your nor- mally excellent coverage didn't appear to give residents a direct opportunity to comment on the plan in the article. I can't believe, from my knowledge of activist Norval residents, that this plan will be universally appreciated and I would have liked to hear from any rea- sonable dissenters. Philip Lewin, Glen Williams Where's the other view? Candidate grateful for the support In the recent election in this riding, not only did the Liberals have to climb a mountain, we had to move that mountain. We did that, just a little. I count myself lucky to live in a country where elections are free and open, and where every person has the right to choose who speaks for them. I congratulate Michael Chong for his win, and thank all of the can- didates for a fairly fought election. I will never forget the energy, hope and excitement that so many of my supporters brought to this campaign. People from all over the riding, many of whom were once strangers to me, worked so hard and for so long, and are now friends. Thank you to every one who put up a lawn sign, canvassed door to door, donated to the cause, attended a debate, made phone calls, wrote to a newspaper, baked cookies, and helped in hundreds of other ways, including giving me their vote. Thank you to the talented, ener- getic members of Team Trant, who gave up many months of your lives for a cause they believed in. I am proud and grateful. Thank you to the fine people in the Wellington-Halton Hills Federal Liberal Association, for support and advice all along the way. And thank you to Mary Lou and all of my family, who gave heart, soul, and steadfast support through all these months of upheaval. It has been an honour to run. Canada is the best place in all the world to live. Please, never stop working to make it even better. Better is always possible. Don Trant, Liberal Candidate for Wellington-Halton Hills The Independent & Free Press is published Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Independent & Free Press is a member of the Ontario Press Coun- cil, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For additional information or to file a complaint, contact info@ontpress.com or call 416-340-1981. The Independent & Free Press Letters must include the author's name, address and daytime phone num- ber. Anonymous letters will not be published. Let- ters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaran- teed. Email: cgamble@theifp.ca Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 77, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters policy