Since the beginning of the federal election campaign, the Citizen's editorial board has been busy getting to know the people who have been out knocking on doors and pounding in lawn signs on behalf of their parties in 15 area ridings -the people who hope to represent you in the 41st Canadian Parliament. Deciding whom to endorse has not been easy. As with every campaign, municipal, provincial or federal, the quality of individuals who put aside careers and sacrifice time with family in the name of democracy is humbling. Over the next few days we will reveal who impressed us the most, and who we believe will best represent the needs of local ridings in the House of Commons.

Endorsement: Stormont-Dundas-South — Clément brings a fresh perspective

Election campaigns in Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry tend to have an atmosphere of déjà vu, as many of the region’s challenges are perennial. Every candidate, in every election, promises to revitalize the economy and take advantage of the tourism potential in the area. The Conservative incumbent, Guy Lauzon, pointed out that the question of where to put the border crossing into the United States is “a 65-year-old problem.”

It is, in short, a region in need of fresh perspective. The best person to offer that is not the man who’s represented the riding since 2004 and is seeking his fourth term. Luckily, the riding has a good alternative in the Liberal candidate, Bernadette Clément.

Lauzon says the Conservative government has made some progress on infrastructure, and that the local economy is doing better. His priorities now are extending the runway at the local airport, in the hopes it will attract industry, and continuing to work on establishing a training centre for public servants in the riding.

His party’s support for supply management in agriculture is a betrayal of conservative principles and has negative economic consequences both domestically and in international negotiations. As none of the major parties is willing to take a stand against supply management, the issue can’t sway voters from the Conservative party in general or from stronger Tory candidates. But Lauzon is one of supply management’s champions, and the Conservative caucus doesn’t need more of those.

Lauzon might very well get a few more things done for his riding if he were given the chance to slog away for a fourth term. But only the most effective incumbents should stay in office that long; Lauzon does not meet that test.

The NDP is represented in the riding by Mario Leclerc, a thoughtful man with a background in the labour movement, the public service and education. He says job creation and health care ought to be the priorities for the next MP. Wyatt Walsh, the Green candidate, is a little rough around the edges but has brought some useful lateral thinking to the campaign on such perennial problems as health care and energy generation.

Clément, a legal-aid lawyer and Cornwall municipal councillor, has a solid grasp of the local issues. She says it’s “absurd” that a new bridge is under construction without a permanent location for the port of entry into Canada. She claims Lauzon could have done a better job managing the dispute over arming guards at the Akwesasne border crossing, which led to the current situation. She says she wants to bring “energy and hope” and a change of style to the riding.

Lauzon has had his chance — several chances — to make a mark on Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. Clément has earned her turn.

Endorsement: Carleton-Mississippi Mills — O’Connor’s our pick in this political battle

The battle to represent the riding of Carleton-Mississippi Mills has military overtones this time around, and, on the front lines, there are a couple of veterans.

Conservative incumbent Gordon O’Connor, a former army brigadier-general, once served, although not very well, as defence minister in Stephen Harper’s government. He faces tough competition from another military veteran, decorated former air force commander Lt.-Col. Karen McCrimmon, running for the Liberals.

It is not surprising that the purchase of the F-35 fighter jets became an issue in the campaign. While both candidates acknowledged each others’ military records, they disagree strongly on the purchase of the jets, which are expected to be the largest single military expenditure in Canadian history.

McCrimmon, who has flown in the Arctic, notes that the jets are unsuitable for the Far North. The Liberals say they will get rid of the sole-sourced deal for the jets and hold an open competition. O’Connor says the fighters’ stealth capability is crucial, adding there are no other good options to upgrade the fleet.

Green candidate John Hogg also has strong views on the fighter jet purchase, calling them “a great solution for problems Canada does not have.” Hogg, who has a background in high-tech, is critical of the incumbent and the Conservative government for failing to help Nortel pensioners, calling their inaction “inexcusable.”

NDP candidate Erin Peters is a community volunteer, specifically in youth social justice programs.

O’Connor defends the federal government’s decision not to give financial help to Nortel, although it stepped in to bail out General Motors during the financial crisis. By the time Nortel went under it had been so badly managed that there was no question of saving the company, he said. McCrimmon calls the federal government’s inaction on Nortel “short-sighted.”

High-tech companies are on the minds of many voters in the riding that used to be home of one of the country’s biggest technology hubs, but where the industry is now in decline.

Whether Kanata will return to the days when high-tech put it on the map remains a question, but voters are right to expect some government attention on the issue. O’Connor, rightly, points out that his government has done a good job of “husbanding the economy” through a tough recession, which will help his riding and the rest of the country.

The riding has been represented by O’Connor since 2004. In 2008, he won the election by 20,000 votes. He is an experienced member of cabinet, serving most recently as minister of state and chief government whip. Voters have a wealth of choices in the riding this time around. We pick O’Connor who has been an able representative for the residents of Carleton-Mississippi Mills.

Endorsement: Hull-Aylmer — Turmel edges out experienced Proulx

First elected in 1999, Marcel Proulx has safeguarded the Liberal stronghold of Hull-Aylmer for more than a decade. But he appears to be facing a stiffer test in this election than he has in the past.

In a meeting with the Citizen’s editorial board, Proulx trotted out a few old projects. He would like to see the Canada Museum of Science and Technology moved from its current location to the Quebec side. He favours the site of the old E.B. Eddy/Domtar plant. We’re not completely sold on that location given the political and logistical hurdles. But it’s clear the riverfront in downtown Gatineau is desperate for rejuvenation. And the current relic on St. Laurent is very nearly a museum piece itself.

Proulx also reiterated his commitment to new bridges across the Ottawa River — one in the east and one connecting Aylmer and Kanata. The east-end bridge is necessary to remove truck traffic from downtown Ottawa. A western bridge is no solution to the city’s traffic problems but such a project is years away, in any event.

More attainable could be Proulx’s desire to protect 300 hectares of the Boucher Forest. It could be “a huge lung for the Ottawa area,” he says.

But Proulx’s key focus is to preserve federal jobs in the riding. He lobbies tirelessly to keep the Trudeau-mandated split of 25 per cent of public service work on the Quebec side of the capital region.

Nycole Turmel, former president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, is a strong contender in this race, particularly given the NDP’s sudden surge in Quebec. A rally in Gatineau this week featuring Jack Layton and area NDP candidates, including Turmel, drew an enthusiastic crowd. The party’s flirtation with the separatist vote and expensive campaign promises count against her in our view, but there’s no denying its popularity is on the rise.

Turmel has been very active in social housing. “I know what people in Hull-Aylmer are going through ... they need some help, they need some support,” she says. Her first act if elected would be to present a bill to preserve Gatineau Park.

Colourful Green candidate Roger Fleury is a teacher and advocate for the mentally disabled. He has big plans for the Gatineau waterfront and wants to see improved transit and health care.

Conservative Nancy Brassard-Fortin, who works in the office of MP Jacques Gourde, has generally stayed away from public appearances during the campaign.

Turmel has a nice résumé for politics and a good knowledge of the issues. She would be a strong advocate for the public service and the poor. While it’s awfully close, she gets our endorsement ahead of the experienced Proulx.

Endorsement: Gatineau — A difficult choice in Gatineau

The federal riding of Gatineau is difficult to explain.

The incumbent is Richard Nadeau, a member of the Bloc Québécois. Nadeau, who didn’t appear at the Citizen editorial board meeting for the riding, stands for Quebec independence in an area where 26 per cent of the jobs result from the presence of the federal government. Those jobs quite likely would disappear in the event Nadeau’s prime directive comes to fruition.

Candidates at the Citizen meeting, federalists all, tried to explain Nadeau’s win. They felt that Bloc support is very solid, so with five people running in Gatineau, vote splitting resulted in the Nadeau win. Then there’s the overwhelming bad publicity for the Liberals still emanating from the sponsorship scandal. But with independence as his major plank, Nadeau is a non-starter for a Citizen endorsement.

Françoise Boivin is a former radio talk-show host and a lawyer. With her boisterous character and broadcast voice, it’s difficult to ignore the New Democrat in a room. Boivin says the No. 1 issue in the riding is the lack of leadership there because the Bloc incumbent is so far removed from government he can’t get necessary services for the area. She defends the public health system but acknowledges that wait times and lack of service are difficult problems in Gatineau. Boivin is also worried about poverty among seniors and possible public-service cuts.

Liberal Steve MacKinnon, who has worked in both the public and private sectors, says Gatineau does not receive its share of services and needs a new bridge to Ottawa, preferably by 2017. The candidate says a federalist representative in Parliament is more likely to obtain government investment for the riding than a separatist. MacKinnon feels the sponsorship-scandal problems for the Liberals have diminished. As well, he feels a Liberal government will revitalize and restore pride in the public service.

Computer engineer Jonathan Meijer of the Green party would enhance the protection of the French language and create a looser Canadian federation.

Conservative Jennifer Gearey is a public servant who moved to the riding 18 months ago. Gearey says the Bloc has ignored the riding and its economy is suffering accordingly. The candidate is proud of the Conservative economic record and believes there is great potential in new free-trade deals the government is pursuing.

Boivin and MacKinnon are the two strongest candidates, with the nod going to MacKinnon because of Boivin’s strong support for extending Quebec language legislation in fields of federal jurisdiction — an untenable policy for the federal government and Canada.

Endorsement: Ottawa-Centre — Dewar punches above his weight in Parliament

Ottawa-Centre is, as its name implies, the heart of the capital of Canada. Accordingly, its main sport is, as is fitting to the home of the Parliament Buildings, politics. Voter turnout in the riding is often above 70 per cent.

So the representative for this riding is likely to get a good workout on his or her way to election day. The competition is usually fierce in this most political arena.

New Democrat Paul Dewar is the incumbent. First elected in 2006, he defeated the very capable Liberal Penny Collenette last time out in 2008. A former teacher, Dewar is not surprisingly concerned about the future of the public service in a riding with much government employment. The MP would like to work on a better relationship between the government and the public service.

Dewar’s other planks include making the health-care system work, particularly for seniors. The MP says a way must be found to fast-track new Canadian doctors into the system to provide family care to people without general practitioners. Dewar would also lower small business taxes and find ways to make the treatment of the Ottawa River more sustainable.

Liberal candidate Scott Bradley has been campaigning for some time but prior to that he worked in business development, strategy and government relations in the private sector. Playing to the public service vote in the area, he says he doesn’t want to see Stephen Harper elected “on the backs of public servants.” Bradley says he would be a local champion for the riding.

Conservative candidate Damian Konstantinakos says he would strive to create “a minimum standard of opportunity” in the riding and would work to protect the area’s heritage buildings. The former telecom employee says he would respect tax dollars and help generate jobs in Ottawa.

Jen Hunter, the Green party candidate, emphasizes that her party is not based on just one issue. The former software executive stresses she would like to see a smart economy and would tackle the deficit while creating long-lasting jobs. She does not see a need to pollute to create prosperity.

Dewar during the last term has hit well above his weight as an opposition MP. As the NDP’s foreign affairs critic, he has had a high profile in question period and in committee. But while holding down such a critical post, Dewar has not forgotten his role as a local representative. He has been a major voice for peace in Afghanistan and worked hard to remove obstacles to sending generic drugs to underdeveloped areas.

Ottawa-Centre has several candidates who would be top picks as MPs if they ran in a different riding. Dewar is the best among them.

Endorsement: Ottawa-Orléans riding — Energetic Bertschi has earned his chance

Conservative MP Royal Galipeau, the incumbent in Ottawa-Orléans, is seeking his third term in the previously Liberal riding. But it has not been a terribly productive five years for the incumbent, who faces a serious fight for his seat this time out.

Galipeau has been criticized by Liberal challenger David Bertschi for doing little to attract infrastructure funding or to prevent federal jobs from leaving the riding, most notably with the RCMP and Department of National Defence. Ten thousand people in Ottawa-Orléans would be affected by the move of DND to the former Nortel campus in Kanata, Bertschi estimates, and “not a peep has been heard from our member of Parliament.” With light rail a decade away at least and traffic building on the highways, many Orléans residents are looking at having to leave the riding rather than cross the city for their jobs.

For this, Galipeau has little response. He told the Citizen’s editorial board it would even be improper for him to seek government jobs for the riding.

While it is true that moving around government offices isn’t a substitute for economic development, Ottawa-Orléans has always been heavily dependent on public service employment and residents could at least hope their MP would work to maintain the level of federal jobs that are in the riding.

Galipeau, who started out as a Gloucester councillor, says he is in politics to serve his constituents and that he has worked hard to get residents help with passports and on their taxes. His home phone number is listed and he welcomes calls.

Bertschi, a lawyer, has raised six children in the riding. He says “bringing jobs to Orléans” is what brought him into politics. At the many doors he’s knocked on, he says, he’s hearing that health, jobs and infrastructure are the biggest priorities in the riding. He received an endorsement from the Public Service Alliance of Canada on Wednesday.

Paul Maillet, a Green candidate in his second campaign for the riding, is worth a look. The former air force colonel is a consultant on governance and ethics, and is a strong critic of the current government’s relationship with the public service and its conduct in Parliament. He is also critical of the process for the proposed procurement of 65 F-35 jets. He says unmanned drones will soon be the dominant technology, making the F-35s obsolete.

Maillet told the Citizen “the business of Ottawa-Orléans is families.” He notes that many workers commute downtown from the riding, placing a large emphasis on transit. He would attempt to attract more federal jobs to the area as MP.

New Democrat Martine Cenatus is a Carleton student who has kept a low profile during the campaign.

Galipeau is a decent man who has a long history of service to the area. But voters in Ottawa-Orléans would do well to give the energetic and competent Bertschi a chance.

Endorsement: Ottawa West-Nepean — Challengers can’t topple powerful Baird

In the five years since he was first elected to represent the federal riding of Ottawa West-Nepean, John Baird has become one of Canada’s best-known politicians. His prominence in Stephen Harper’s government is indisputable. He has adeptly managed a variety of particularly difficult portfolios in cabinet.

Baird, scowling and jabbing his finger in Parliament, has really become the face of the federal government. And while that has made him a very powerful politician, it also makes him, especially in his role as leader of the House, uniquely answerable for much of the dysfunction in Parliament. The man who shepherded the accountability act has also served as pit-bull-on-call when the government wants to shut down inquiry or control the message.

Baird, who is both a shrewd and a talented politician, can do better than this, and in fact frequently does. He was voted “parliamentarian of the year” by his fellow MPs for his collaborative approach behind the scenes. This is the John Baird the public doesn’t see enough of. That should change.

Baird faces an impressive group of challengers in his third federal campaign. Liberal Anita Vandenbeld has been a senior adviser to the United Nations with a special expertise in democracy and human rights. She is the recipient of a 2008 Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal for democratic development in Kosovo. Her work promoting democracy, she said, has made her particularly concerned about the democratic process in the Canadian Parliament under the Harper government, notably the finding of contempt of Parliament that precipitated the election.

Vandenbeld also says Baird and the Conservative government didn’t do enough to help Nortel — or the company’s pensioners, once the company had gone under.

Marlene Rivier is a psychologist and public health advocate who is running for the NDP in the riding for the fourth time. She also criticizes Baird on Nortel, noting that the NDP proposes to amend the bankruptcy act so that pensioners should get higher priority when a company goes down.

Green candidate Mark MacKenzie, a small-business owner and past-president of the Organic Landscape Alliance, said some of the people he has talked to at the door say they are upset about the representation they got while Nortel collapsed: “Mr. Baird stood and watched ...”

The quality of competition in this campaign should have given the incumbent some food for thought. Still, Baird remains the best candidate and indeed he is likely the Ottawa region’s most able politian. We challenge him to let the public see more of his co-operative side in the next Parliament.

Endorsement: Glengarry-Prescott-Russell — Lemieux paints former Liberal stronghold blue

Glengarry-Prescott-Russell should be fertile ground for the federal Liberal party.

After all, the Grits have traditionally appealed to French Canada as the champions of bilingualism. But the days when Pierre Trudeau could virtually sweep Quebec are long gone and so too is the time when the federal Liberals were the natural choice of French-speakers outside of Quebec. Sure, there are still vestiges of that legacy — the Grit dominance of Ottawa-Vanier for example — but it is disappearing.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. From 1962 until 2006, it was a Liberal stronghold. But from 2006 to the present it has been the domain of Conservative Pierre Lemieux. The chiselled former military officer and high-tech manager defends the supply management system for dairy products, favours a tax credit for innovation, and defends the Conservative economic record. Lemieux would back job creation efforts and would try to see that taxes are lowered.

Liberal Julie Bourgeois would, in other times, be simply anointed MP after she won her riding nomination battle. Not anymore. The Embrun lawyer says she has been participating in community events since she was a child. Bourgeois reminds voters that the Liberal government started the supply management system. At a Citizen editorial board meeting with the candidates, she was very sincere but she lacked specifics on programs.

Green party candidate Sylvie Lemieux is a big supporter of a commuter rail system, much like the Toronto-area’s GO Train, for her riding. Lemieux says such a system would be an environmentally friendly way of transporting people in her area into Ottawa where there are jobs. But the experience of the GO Train is not one we should be so eager to repeat in Ottawa. Many urban experts feel the commuter train has contributed to environmentally damaging urban sprawl.

The Green candidate would give incentives to manufacturers to attract jobs to the area. In farming, she has a back-to-the-future approach were she would promote traditional, environmentally sensitive methods from other times to produce safe foods.

Denis Séguin was acclaimed as the New Democratic candidate in the riding. The St. Albert resident is a member-services representative at the Gay Lea Foods Cooperative and supports prosperous farms and meaningful employment.

The candidates were not the strongest group among the Ottawa-area ridings that attended editorial board meetings with the Citizen. Pierre Lemieux is intelligent and capable but not a world-beater and probably not cabinet material. However, his espousal of small government and lower taxes is probably the most appealing platform of the candidates in the riding. Voters would not go wrong choosing him.

Endorsement: Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington riding — Thoughtful Reid is a refreshing politician

There may be a political revolution brewing in and around the rural riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington -at least when it comes to provincial politics -but on the federal front, things are orderly and polite, even during a hardfought election campaign.

Conservative incumbent Scott Reid shares office space with his provincial counterpart Randy Hillier, the outspoken former head of the Ontario Landowners Association. Hillier ran for the provincial Progressive Conservative Party leadership and has been an outspoken thorn in Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak's side. The two politicians also share a political philosophy that is on the libertarian side of conservative (they have jointly introduced legislation to enshrine property rights for Ontario in the Constitution), not to mention independent streaks.

But their styles are very different. Reid, who has represented the riding federally for a decade, originally running as a Canadian Alliance candidate, has matured into a thoughtful and refreshingly non-partisan MP. He has built a reputation as one of the deep-thinkers of the Conservative benches, an author whose expertise ranges from the complexities of the Canadian political system to parliamentary reform.

Reid's early promise as cabinet material may have faded -perhaps because of that independent streak -but he has done valuable committee work and has been a good representative for his constituents.

His key rival in this election, as in the last one, is former Napanee mayor Dave Remington. Remington, who has studied restorative justice and has a background in small business, currently works for the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

Remington says people he has talked to are worried about jobs and health care, but also about our dysfunctional Parliament.

Other candidates in the race are Carleton Place lawyer Ralph Lee, who is running as an independent, and John Baranyi, a Green candidate. They have also expressed concerns about the state of federal politics. Lee said he is running "to send a message to Ottawa that the way business is being done is not acceptable." Baranyi asked voters to send a message that more attention must be paid to the environment.

Doug Smyth, a business manager who lives in Scotch Corners, is a first-time candidate running for the NDP.

Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington faces numerous challenges, including the loss of manufacturing jobs and concerns about youth mental health. A federal election won't solve all of its issues, but electing an experienced, competent and smart MP will benefit riding residents.

That candidate is Conservative Scott Reid.

Endorsement: Pontiac riding — Cannon makes a great local representative

Were the next prime minister to ask our opinion about who should be Canada's next foreign affairs minister, Lawrence Cannon would not be our choice. Over the last few years, Cannon has presided over a foreign policy that has oscillated between invisible and downright harmful -when it comes to the treatment of Canadians abroad, for example, or our profile at the UN, or the bizarrely aggressive stance toward diplomat Richard Colvin on the detainee issue. Not all of that is Cannon's fault, but as minister, he must bear some responsibility for the over-politicization of his portfolio.

That said, Cannon has the editorial board's wholehearted endorsement as MP for Pontiac. He knows the economic and infrastructure needs of the area as well as anyone, and respects the needs of local industry. He's a strong MP with a good grasp of facts and issues, and his re-election would be good for the whole Ottawa-Gatineau region. He's not flashy, but his down-to-earth style and moderate views suit his riding and makes him an unusually approachable politician. Indeed, he'd be an asset to another Harper cabinet, in a portfolio more suited to his strengths.

His Liberal opponent is Cindy Duncan McMillan, a cattle farmer and community volunteer whose passion for the area, its people, its industry and agriculture is evident. She is right to be concerned about the future of the foresty sector and she has some ideas for how to rejuvenate it. Her range, though, is too narrow to make her a good MP.

Mathieu Ravignat, the NDP candidate, raises some important issues, such as the needs of small business and the public servants who commute from the riding, and the need to better protect the area's lakes and rivers. He's also an articulate defender of his party's policies on both national and international stages. And he's far from the old socialist stereotype of the NDP; he brought up the need for more international trade agreements with the Citizen's editorial board, and has intelligent things to say about diversifying the region's economy.

Maude Tremblay, the candidate for the Bloc Québécois, is a sociology and psychology student at the University of Ottawa. Louis-Philippe Mayrand, the Green candidate, has a background as an advocate for public health and the environment, which includes his work to improve water quality as a councillor in Gracefield.

Pontiac is a big riding that bridges many worlds: rural Quebec with the urban capital region, anglophone and francophone, and even left and right -the riding has gone back and forth between the Liberals and Conservatives. Lawrence Cannon, a fluently bilingual federalist who manages to be both urbane and casual, and who is not the bluest Tory, is a good representative for the riding.

Endorsement: Ottawa South riding — McGuinty is an MP with depth

The opposition parties have pointed to the dysfunction in Parliament as one reason for this election. But they bear at least part of the blame for the hyperpartisan games, the shallow heckling in Question Period, the grandstanding in committees. As Liberal House leader, David Mc-Guinty has a lot to explain to Canadians who say they're disgusted with politicians.

He is, though, an MP with depth and an asset to the Liberal caucus. His roots in Ottawa South -and in politics -go deep, and he brings a richness of experience to Parliament, from his early training in agriculture to his education in literature and law, from his work for UNICEF in West Africa to his contributions in environmental policy. Immigration is an important file in the riding, and he knows it inside and out, and his respect for the rights of newcomers is evident. He says, rightly, that "the bread and butter of being a good member of Parliament" is about listening to constituents and helping them solve their problems with taxes, pensions, passports or other interactions with government.

Elie Salibi, the Conservative candidate, says that as a new Canadian himself who's been here for a quarter-century, he has a desire to serve his adopted country and his riding. His defence of a conservative approach to taxes and fiscal management is compelling, but he has a tendency to vagueness that contrasts unfavourably with McGuinty's firm grasp of detail.

James McLaren, the NDP candidate, is a teacher, community association president and president of the board of directors of a home for adults with disabilities.

McLaren and Salibi got some unwanted attention when they didn't attend a public debate in the riding; McLaren said he couldn't miss his students' exam, but Salibi simply said he'd rather canvass door to door. This trend of candidates refusing to debate each other is disappointing and bad for democracy.

Mick Kitor, the Green candidate, and Mike Bleskie of the Pirate party did turn up to debate McGuinty, but neither is a contender in the race for Ottawa South.

David McGuinty deserves to be returned to the House of Commons, where we hope he will use his considerable intelligence and communication skills to make Parliament work better. He suggests the new Speaker, whoever that turns out to be, lead a review to see if improvements can be made.

That might be a start, but the parties themselves, and their most visible flag-bearers such as McGuinty, must examine their own role on the Hill.

Endorsement: Ottawa-Vanier riding — Westland brings an impressive résumé

The riding of Ottawa-Vanier is not far from Parliament Hill and many of the issues that concern its voters are also federal issues -where to put a bridge across the Ottawa River (and, by doing so, reduce inter-provincial truck traffic through the riding), among them.

The riding has been represented by Liberal Mauril Bélanger for 16 years, the latest in a long line of Liberal incumbents in Ottawa-Vanier, dating back to 1935. Home to a large number of public servants, and a substantial francophone population, the riding is historically one of the most predictably Red in the country, voting Liberal both federally and provincially since its creation.

Bélanger has represented the riding competently as an MP who has been active in local issues and who has made the rights of Franco-Ontarians a priority. He has served as chair of the standing committee on official languages, has been a member of the standing committee on the library of Parliament, and, in 2003, was deputy House leader and government whip, among other roles.

But, after 16 years in the job, the constituents of Ottawa-Vanier, which is undergoing a demographic shift that includes more immigrants, would benefit from a new face in Parliament. Conservative Rem Westland is equipped with the life experience and skills to bring some new ideas to Parliament Hill and a new viewpoint to the riding.

In fact, Westland's impressive mix of work experience makes him almost a perfect fit for the riding. A Dutch immigrant, and graduate of the Royal Military College, he has worked as a senior bureaucrat at both National Defence and Indian and Northern Affairs. Westland has lived in the riding for two decades. Among issues he became familiar with while at National Defence was the development of lands at CFB Rockcliffe. He has also worked with a company that specializes in real property and infrastructure, including bridge projects. Refreshingly, Westland shows signs of being an independent thinker on issues including crime.

Also running in Ottawa-Vanier is Trevor Haché, policy co-ordinator for Ecology Ottawa and founder of the Sandy Hill Community Garden. Haché, who also ran for the NDP in the last federal election, said more must be done to reduce poverty in the riding.

Caroline Rioux, a software designer, is the Green Party candidate in the riding. The new mother said concerns about democracy inspired her to run.

But Westland is the best choice for new ideas in a rapidly changing riding.

Endorsement: Nepean-Carleton riding — Committed Poilievre tops in a good field

The voters in Nepean-Carleton are lucky, this time around: Each of the four major parties is represented by someone who has brought serious ideas to this campaign.

The riding has been ably represented since 2004 by Pierre Poilievre. He's hard-working and takes justified pride in his accomplishments, such as his involvement in improving drug-treatment options for youth. In a meeting with the Citizen's editorial board, he said he's learned that "quietly getting things done actually gains more respect over the longer term" than trying to grab headlines.

It's good to hear Poilievre has learned that lesson, but it's perplexing coming from an MP who has come to represent the ugliest partisan impulses of the Harper Conservatives. The most recent example of Poilievre's unfortunate facility with spin was his insistence that charges related to the in-and-out electionfunding scheme amounted to nothing more than a disagreement about accounting. This is the dilemma for voters in Nepean-Carleton: Poilievre is a talented MP, but if voters choose to hold the government to account in any way for its ethical record, its contempt of Parliament and its arrogance, surely Poilievre is among the MPs who could answer.

With a background in engineering and high-tech, Jean-Luc Cooke would make a great first elected Green MP. He has solid ideas for pension reform and for encouraging private-sector investment, innovation and small-business growth. That makes him a good fit for a part of Ottawa still reeling from the demise of Nortel -indeed, the fallout from Nortel triggered his desire to run for office.

Ryan Keon, the Liberal candidate, is also worth a look. He's a lawyer with experience working with the high-tech sector. He seems decent and forthright. He says Ottawa needs a federal government that will see the light-rail project through and ensure fair, stable infrastructure funding. And he has some ideas for bridging the rural-urban divide in the riding.

Ric Dagenais is a veteran NDP candidate, although he hasn't run before in Nepean-Carleton. His passion on the subject of Canadian democracy is an asset -as are his own ideas. For example, he says Ottawa's traffic congestion could be reduced with a staggered work week and increased telecommuting in the public service, and he's right.

It isn't easy to choose which of these men would make the best MP. Our vote goes to Poilievre, in recognition of his record within this riding, despite our serious reservations about his style.

He has demonstrated a commitment to understanding and solving the problems of his constituents, and that goes a long way.

Endorsement: Leeds-Grenville riding — Hard-working Brown deserves another shot

Around the time the federal election campaign began, the editors of MoneySense magazine ranked Brockville 144th on its 180-city "Best Places to Live" list. Surely hard to believe for anyone who has spent time there.

The city's location in the heart of the Thousand Islands is among the most beautiful in the world. The cost of living is low and recreational opportunities abound. Major centres such as Ottawa are a short drive away. But MoneySense is mostly concerned with economic factors, and while Brockville and the entire riding of Leeds-Grenville have many charms, jobs and the economy are once again at the top of voters' list of concerns.

Liberal Marjory Loveys, a party economic adviser, ran her first campaign for Leeds-Grenville in 2008 while living in urban Ottawa -a decided disadvantage. But she has shown her commitment to the area by moving to Brockville, where one can see more than a smattering of Liberal signs on lawns.

Intelligent and well-spoken, Loveys is a legitimate contender. She believes there's a future for green technology jobs in the riding, particularly solar power, and she says she would work to ensure high-tech companies could move there and have all the support and infrastructure they could expect in Kanata while taking advantage of the area's "lovely, low-cost communities."

The likeable incumbent, Gordon Brown, a former businessman in the hospitality industry, can point to his record on economic development in his pitch to represent the riding again in the next Parliament. He wants to continue to help revitalize the main streets of the area's towns to emphasize the kind of charm that has made Merrickville and Westport bustling tourist attractions.

Brown has worked to get support for the Eastern Ontario Development Program, and has seen stimulus funding go to a long list of projects in the region. He likes to see economic development money go to community agencies, who know better how to spend it than bureaucrats in Ottawa, he says. Brown claims credit for getting the different business sectors in the region working together rather than in silos.

He has also been active in crafting private member's legislation supporting the needs of his constituents on crime and EI reform.

New Democrat Matthew Gabriel is a Bell technician and union steward. He has seen up close the impact of lost manufacturing jobs on the region. As an MP he says he would work to make life easier for small businesses in the riding.

The Greens' Mary Slade says she was as surprised as anyone when she won the party's nomination. She would put a priority on local farming, green jobs and health care.

But this contest will come down to Loveys and Brown. And we believe the incumbent, Gordon Brown, has earned a chance to be returned to Parliament for another term.

Endorsement: Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke riding — Clouthier best bet to topple Gallant

Cheryl Gallant doesn't have to show up at a meeting to have her presence felt.

Gallant was the first topic of conversation at a Citizen editorial board meeting this month as the newspaper interviewed the candidates from Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke. Gallant chose not to appear at the meeting, the only candidate in that riding who didn't show. And that predictably drew criticism from her competitors.

The irrepressible Hector Clouthier, who is running as an independent, said her words often get her in trouble with her own Conservative party so she doesn't speak publicly often.

Liberal candidate Christine Tabbert said the riding needs "a member who shows up." Tabbert called her non-appearance "embarrassing." The Green party's Rosanne Van Schie said Gallant should be called upon to explain her absence.

Perhaps Gallant is living proof that absence makes the heart grow fonder. For a person who has represented the riding for a decade, she still sticks her foot in her mouth. Her recent unguarded comments concerning Newfoundlanders expecting Coast Guard life-saving were uttered in front of people who had lost family members in maritime accidents. The riding could use a better MP.

Were Gallant to wear a fedora, she might be Hector Clouthier. The former Liberal MP is famous for his trademark chapeau and his bombastic nature. Clouthier has such a big personality he can suck the air from a room. Clouthier opposes the long-gun registry and wonders why the ruling Conservatives haven't ended it. As well, Clouthier says he is running as an independent because he can't be free to represent his riding while toeing the party line.

Tabbert has recently been living in Toronto but was raised in the riding. The Liberal candidate said she left for the big city because of a lack of job opportunities in the area. Accordingly, youth unemployment is an important issue with her. So too is providing seniors with a secure retirement, though that's easier to address than to solve.

Eric Burton of the NDP is a champion of sustainable development and a former Arnprior councillor. His support of the long-gun registry will likely be an anchor in the rural riding. Van Schie is an economic development adviser with the Algonquin First Nation of Wolf Lake. She is well-spoken and a strong advocate of new energy solutions.

With the opposition split four ways against Gallant, defeating her is tricky. Thoughtful voters might consider Burton or Van Schie but neither has much hope. Clouthier has the best chance of defeating Gallant and representing the interests of the riding.

Endorsement: Gatineau — The federal riding of Gatineau is difficult to explain

The incumbent is Richard Nadeau, a member of the Bloc Québécois. Nadeau, who didn’t appear at the Citizen editorial board meeting for the riding, stands for Quebec independence in an area where 26 per cent of the jobs result from the presence of the federal government. Those jobs quite likely would disappear in the event Nadeau’s prime directive comes to fruition.

Candidates at the Citizen meeting, federalists all, tried to explain Nadeau’s win. They felt that Bloc support is very solid, so with five people running in Gatineau, vote splitting resulted in the Nadeau win. Then there’s the overwhelming bad publicity for the Liberals still emanating from the sponsorship scandal. But with independence as his major plank, Nadeau is a non-starter for a Citizen endorsement.

Françoise Boivin is a former radio talk-show host and a lawyer. With her boisterous character and broadcast voice, it’s difficult to ignore the New Democrat in a room. Boivin says the No. 1 issue in the riding is the lack of leadership there because the Bloc incumbent is so far removed from government he can’t get necessary services for the area. She defends the public health system but acknowledges that wait times and lack of service are difficult problems in Gatineau. Boivin is also worried about poverty among seniors and possible public-service cuts.

Liberal Steve MacKinnon, who has worked in both the public and private sectors, says Gatineau does not receive its share of services and needs a new bridge to Ottawa, preferably by 2017. The candidate says a federalist representative in Parliament is more likely to obtain government investment for the riding than a separatist. MacKinnon feels the sponsorship-scandal problems for the Liberals have diminished. As well, he feels a Liberal government will revitalize and restore pride in the public service.

Computer engineer Jonathan Meijer of the Green party would enhance the protection of the French language and create a looser Canadian federation.

Conservative Jennifer Gearey is a public servant who moved to the riding 18 months ago. Gearey says the Bloc has ignored the riding and its economy is suffering accordingly. The candidate is proud of the Conservative economic record and believes there is great potential in new free-trade deals the government is pursuing.

Boivin and MacKinnon are the two strongest candidates, with the nod going to MacKinnon because of Boivin’s strong support for extending Quebec language legislation in fields of federal jurisdiction — an untenable policy for the federal government and Canada.

Endorsement: Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry — Clément brings a fresh perspective

Election campaigns in Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry tend to have an atmosphere of déjà vu, as many of the region’s challenges are perennial. Every candidate, in every election, promises to revitalize the economy and take advantage of the tourism potential in the area. The Conservative incumbent, Guy Lauzon, pointed out that the question of where to put the border crossing into the United States is “a 65-year-old problem.”

It is, in short, a region in need of fresh perspective. The best person to offer that is not the man who’s represented the riding since 2004 and is seeking his fourth term. Luckily, the riding has a good alternative in the Liberal candidate, Bernadette Clément.

Lauzon says the Conservative government has made some progress on infrastructure, and that the local economy is doing better. His priorities now are extending the runway at the local airport, in the hopes it will attract industry, and continuing to work on establishing a training centre for public servants in the riding.

His party’s support for supply management in agriculture is a betrayal of conservative principles and has negative economic consequences both domestically and in international negotiations. As none of the major parties is willing to take a stand against supply management, the issue can’t sway voters from the Conservative party in general or from stronger Tory candidates. But Lauzon is one of supply management’s champions, and the Conservative caucus doesn’t need more of those.

Lauzon might very well get a few more things done for his riding if he were given the chance to slog away for a fourth term. But only the most effective incumbents should stay in office that long; Lauzon does not meet that test.

The NDP is represented in the riding by Mario Leclerc, a thoughtful man with a background in the labour movement, the public service and education. He says job creation and health care ought to be the priorities for the next MP. Wyatt Walsh, the Green candidate, is a little rough around the edges but has brought some useful lateral thinking to the campaign on such perennial problems as health care and energy generation.

Clément, a legal-aid lawyer and Cornwall municipal councillor, has a solid grasp of the local issues. She says it’s “absurd” that a new bridge is under construction without a permanent location for the port of entry into Canada. She claims Lauzon could have done a better job managing the dispute over arming guards at the Akwesasne border crossing, which led to the current situation. She says she wants to bring “energy and hope” and a change of style to the riding.

Lauzon has had his chance — several chances — to make a mark on Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. Clément has earned her turn.

Endorsement: Carleton-Mississippi Mills — O’Connor’s our pick in this political battle

The battle to represent the riding of Carleton-Mississippi Mills has military overtones this time around, and, on the front lines, there are a couple of veterans.

Conservative incumbent Gordon O’Connor, a former army brigadier-general, once served, although not very well, as defence minister in Stephen Harper’s government. He faces tough competition from another military veteran, decorated former air force commander Lt.-Col. Karen McCrimmon, running for the Liberals.

It is not surprising that the purchase of the F-35 fighter jets became an issue in the campaign. While both candidates acknowledged each others’ military records, they disagree strongly on the purchase of the jets, which are expected to be the largest single military expenditure in Canadian history.

McCrimmon, who has flown in the Arctic, notes that the jets are unsuitable for the Far North. The Liberals say they will get rid of the sole-sourced deal for the jets and hold an open competition. O’Connor says the fighters’ stealth capability is crucial, adding there are no other good options to upgrade the fleet.

Green candidate John Hogg also has strong views on the fighter jet purchase, calling them “a great solution for problems Canada does not have.” Hogg, who has a background in high-tech, is critical of the incumbent and the Conservative government for failing to help Nortel pensioners, calling their inaction “inexcusable.”

NDP candidate Erin Peters is a community volunteer, specifically in youth social justice programs.

O’Connor defends the federal government’s decision not to give financial help to Nortel, although it stepped in to bail out General Motors during the financial crisis. By the time Nortel went under it had been so badly managed that there was no question of saving the company, he said. McCrimmon calls the federal government’s inaction on Nortel “short-sighted.”

High-tech companies are on the minds of many voters in the riding that used to be home of one of the country’s biggest technology hubs, but where the industry is now in decline.

Whether Kanata will return to the days when high-tech put it on the map remains a question, but voters are right to expect some government attention on the issue. O’Connor, rightly, points out that his government has done a good job of “husbanding the economy” through a tough recession, which will help his riding and the rest of the country.

The riding has been represented by O’Connor since 2004. In 2008, he won the election by 20,000 votes. He is an experienced member of cabinet, serving most recently as minister of state and chief government whip. Voters have a wealth of choices in the riding this time around. We pick O’Connor who has been an able representative for the residents of Carleton-Mississippi Mills.

Endorsement: Hull-Aylmer — Turmel edges out experienced Proulx

First elected in 1999, Marcel Proulx has safeguarded the Liberal stronghold of Hull-Aylmer for more than a decade. But he appears to be facing a stiffer test in this election than he has in the past.

In a meeting with the Citizen’s editorial board, Proulx trotted out a few old projects. He would like to see the Canada Museum of Science and Technology moved from its current location to the Quebec side. He favours the site of the old E.B. Eddy/Domtar plant. We’re not completely sold on that location given the political and logistical hurdles. But it’s clear the riverfront in downtown Gatineau is desperate for rejuvenation. And the current relic on St. Laurent is very nearly a museum piece itself.

Proulx also reiterated his commitment to new bridges across the Ottawa River — one in the east and one connecting Aylmer and Kanata. The east-end bridge is necessary to remove truck traffic from downtown Ottawa. A western bridge is no solution to the city’s traffic problems but such a project is years away, in any event.

More attainable could be Proulx’s desire to protect 300 hectares of the Boucher Forest. It could be “a huge lung for the Ottawa area,” he says.

But Proulx’s key focus is to preserve federal jobs in the riding. He lobbies tirelessly to keep the Trudeau-mandated split of 25 per cent of public service work on the Quebec side of the capital region.

Nycole Turmel, former president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, is a strong contender in this race, particularly given the NDP’s sudden surge in Quebec. A rally in Gatineau this week featuring Jack Layton and area NDP candidates, including Turmel, drew an enthusiastic crowd. The party’s flirtation with the separatist vote and expensive campaign promises count against her in our view, but there’s no denying its popularity is on the rise.

Turmel has been very active in social housing. “I know what people in Hull-Aylmer are going through ... they need some help, they need some support,” she says. Her first act if elected would be to present a bill to preserve Gatineau Park.

Colourful Green candidate Roger Fleury is a teacher and advocate for the mentally disabled. He has big plans for the Gatineau waterfront and wants to see improved transit and health care.

Conservative Nancy Brassard-Fortin, who works in the office of MP Jacques Gourde, has generally stayed away from public appearances during the campaign.

Turmel has a nice résumé for politics and a good knowledge of the issues. She would be a strong advocate for the public service and the poor. While it’s awfully close, she gets our endorsement ahead of the experienced Proulx.