Niagara MP candidates ramp up their campaigns with election day coming up

The federal election is just weeks away, and MP candidates in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake are ramping up their campaigns.

Conservative Party candidate and incumbent Tony Baldinelli says this election is all about affordability – pointing to the Conservative Party promise to address it.

“The first day we talked about a tax cut, fifteen per cent reduction to the lowest basic tax bracket,” he said.

“That’s going to save the average Canadian couple around $1,900.”

He also mentioned extending senior’s ability to draw on their RRSP’s, as well as eliminating the federal beer excise tax.

“The automatic tax that happens every April 1 on beer, spirits and wine… how undemocratic,” he said.

“That tax every April 1 goes up without even a vote in the House of Commons. In the wine sector, margins are thin, so every dollar they save is valuable.”

Meanwhile, Liberal Party candidate Andrea Kaiser says her experience as a Niagara regional and municipal councillor – and business owner – makes her right for the job.

“I had a small business, I understand what it’s like to pay the bills and have to meet payroll,” she said.

Kaiser says affordability is top of mind for voters, especially in the face of U.S. tariffs.

“I think we know that we have to build a strong local economy and address the issues at hand,” she said.

“We would be working with business owners to understand what their needs are […] and certainly looking at investing in building a strong community forward in terms of business leadership.”

NDP candidate Shannon Mitchell – a former Niagara Public School Board trustee – says federal funding cuts from previous Conservative governments have put the Niagara region in a difficult spot.

“Those governments cut federal funding for housing, and healthcare, leading to some of the crisis we’re seeing right now with lack of shelter space, lack of housing, lack of doctors and nurses here in our community,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell says her experience and connections would be valuable as an MP.

“”I think it’s really hard to ignore the elephant in the room, which is of course the Trump administration and tariffs.” she added.

“I am the very proud daughter of a manufacturing worker and my brother owns a small construction business. I also believe I am in a unique position to go to Ottawa and fight like hell for the families and workers here in our community who are so at risk.”

READ MORE: In the Canadian city most vulnerable to tariffs, small businesses are being squeezed