First-time Conservative Party candidate for Etobicoke Lakeshore Indira Bains says her campaign team is pushing hard knocking on every door in the last days before the September 20 vote.

“All kinds of volunteers are dropping in and helping out,” Bains says. “There is an energy and enthusiasm and we are riding it.”

All the candidates for the federal election have been door knocking, putting up signs and trying to win over converts to vote for their party on Monday at the polls.

Bains and her volunteers are surprised by the level of anger against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“I am surprised at how many people are angry at Trudeau for calling this election,” Bains says. “They (voters) think he is irresponsible and self-centred.”

She claims some voters say “Trudeau has embarrassed Canada on the international stage for legalizing marijuana and wasting time with the WE and SNC Lavalin scandals.”

Bains says voters like the Conservatives recovery plan and others in regards to mental health, climate change and the environment.

“Etobicoke-Lakeshore is a big riding and we are working our way through it canvassing and distributing materials,” she insists. “We are not letting up.”

Liberal incumbent James Maloney says in his literature that his party created the Canada Child Benefit and lifted 435,000 children out of poverty.

He said the Liberals lowered the retirement age from 67 to 65 and supported more than 4,000 local businesses during the pandemic.

“We have a real plan that will create jobs, grow the middle class, and help ensure Canadians can get a home of their own,” according to Maloney.

NDP Sasha Kane highlighted reconciliation with Indigenous nations, the need for solutions to the affordable housing crisis, urgent action on climate change and electrifying the TTC fleet as top priorities for her.

The Green Party’s Efam Elue has a strong plan on climate change and the environment.

The last virtual all candidates meeting takes place tonight September 16. It is sponsored by LAMP and Long Branch Community.

The diverse riding has a population of 129,000, which includes 90,000 voters spread across Mimico, New Toronto, Long Branch and Alderwood. It is home for some 4,000 small businesses.