The federal election campaign in Niagara West is heating up as longtime MP Dean Allison faces a challenge from newcomer Harold Korstanje. With the April 28 vote just weeks away, Allison, a veteran Conservative Party candidate, is gearing up for his eighth consecutive election run in the riding.
At 60 years old, Allison is no stranger to the demands of campaigning, and he expects to stay active over the coming weeks. “I just picked up two pairs of shoes two days ago,” he said. “A pair of running shoes and a pair of casual shoes, so I know I’m going to be putting some mileage on them for sure.”
First elected in 2004 when the riding was known as Niagara West-Glanbrook, Allison has represented Niagara West since it was redrawn in 2015. However, he remains focused on earning each vote anew. “You never take those voters for granted,” he emphasized. “You’ve got to earn them every single time.”
As the campaign begins, Allison points to affordability, taxation, and cost-of-living concerns as the main issues for voters in his riding. “I think the whole issue around affordability, taxation, cost of living continues to be an issue,” he said. He also acknowledged the growing anxiety over trade relations with the United States, calling tariffs “the elephant in the room.”
All of Canada’s major party leaders have pledged to stand firm against any tariffs imposed by the U.S., vowing to respond with retaliatory duties if necessary. As the campaign unfolds, Allison will be working hard to secure another term while contending with the shifting economic and political landscape.
