Dean Allison is gearing up for a busy few weeks as he strives to secure an eighth consecutive victory in the Niagara West riding. The 60-year-old Conservative Party candidate, who has represented the area since 2004, says he’s prepared for plenty of campaigning.
“I picked up two new pairs of shoes just a couple of days ago,” Allison joked. “A pair of running shoes and a pair of casual shoes. I’m going to be putting a lot of miles on them for sure.”
As a seasoned politician, Allison recognizes that affordability and cost of living are at the forefront of voters’ concerns in Niagara West. “The issues around affordability, taxation, and the cost of living are still very much on people’s minds,” he said. “And of course, the looming threat of tariffs is an elephant in the room that we can’t ignore.”
With the possibility of tariffs hanging over the region, Allison highlighted the broader context of international trade tensions. Canada’s major political leaders, including the Conservatives, have all promised to retaliate against any tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in the United States.
Despite his long tenure, Allison remains humble about his chances of victory. “Incumbency is never a guarantee,” he said. “You can’t take voters for granted. You have to earn their support every time.”
The upcoming election will also see the Conservative Party running against Justin Trudeau’s successor, Mark Carney, who recently took over as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, is seen by some as a continuation of Trudeau’s economic policies.
Allison doesn’t see much of a difference between the two. “Carney was an economic advisor to the Liberal government over the past five years,” he pointed out. “A lot of the economic policies that contributed to some of the current challenges were endorsed by the previous Liberal leadership.”
As the race intensifies, Allison remains focused on winning over voters and securing his eighth term as MP for Niagara West.
