All five candidates expected to be on the ballot will have run in previous elections. Incumbent Conservative MP Dean Allison, Liberal candidate Heather Carter, New Democrat candidate Dave Heatley and Christian Heritage Party candidate David Bylsma were all on the ballot in 2006. While Sid Frere will be replacing Tom Ferguson as Green Party candidate, Mr. Frere will be known to voters as the Green candidate in the last provincial election.

The call for the election came Sunday when Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean to dissolve Canada's 39th Parliament so that a national vote can be held Oct. 14 -- the day after Thanksgiving. The move sends voters to the polls for the third time in four years.

Mr. Allison, 43, who has represented the riding for two terms (since June 28, 2004), said he's excited to take to the streets to inform the public about the Conservative government's record. "There's a great opportunity for Canadians to make a choice whether they want to see us continue as we've been governing the country, or whether they'd like to see us change direction," he told The News.

Despite going away from a fixed election date of October 9, 2009, Mr. Allison said the called election was due to a lack of cooperation between governments that was making it "progressively more difficult to govern." He noted, however, they've "had one of the longest running minority governments." "We got a lot of work done. Clearly, fixed dates were set up for majority governments," he said.

Mr. Allison said the major issue of this election will be whether people like the direction the Canadian government has been heading in, or if the country is prepared to pay a new carbon tax - the Liberal "Green Shift" plan which Mr. Allison said "is changing every day."

He said he is looking forward to representing Niagara West-Glanbrook's constituents and representing farmers again.

"It's been an honour to serve them, and I'm looking forward to an opportunity to serve them again," he said.

Liberal candidate Heather Carter says she's ready for the election, but is disappointed the Conservatives called it since they had passed legislation for a fixed election date for next October. "This is an example of putting the party before Canadian families and taxpayers," said Ms. Carter.

Since losing to Allison two years ago by more than 9,600 votes, the 54-year-old Pelham resident has maintained her position as Liberal candidate and has been campaigning, having stepped down from her job at Niagara College's Business Development program.

"I decided on the night of the election (in 2006)... of course I would be running again," said Ms. Carter, noting two years later she feels she brings a wider knowledge and experience to the table, after hosting more than 15 town hall meetings and meeting with various Liberal MPs to gain insight and knowledge.

"I've really reached out and learned about some of the key issues in this riding," she said.

Key issues this election, said Ms. Carter, will include fiscal responsibility, a stable approach to agriculture, lack of health care improvements and "lack of leadership". "I think Canadians are really ready for good, responsible government rather than a one-man show," she said. "I'm confident and I am ready to win."

The New Democrats will have to finalize Dave Heatley as candidate at a nomination meeting in Jordan this Friday. It is expected his nomination will be uncontested. "I'm ready to go," said Mr. Heatley.

Mr. Heatley said while the motivation of this election call may be for the Conservatives to try to gain more seats, he feels something different will happen. "There's change in the wind," he said.

Issues such as gas prices, taxes, health care and more all need to be addressed, said Mr. Heatley. "Just making ends meet is difficult today," he said. "It doesn't seem there's a middle class anymore."

Mr. Heatley, 50, has represented the NDP in 2004 and 2006, and saw gains in the last election. He hopes his increased knowledge and awareness of the issues in the riding will help bolster his vote totals even more this election.

"I've learned a lot over the last two elections," said the Hamilton resident. "I think we're going to bring our percentage up, but I also think the riding could be there for the taking. The Conservatives haven't really done a lot. We may not be the official opposition, but under Jack (Layton) we're the effective opposition."

The timing and rationale for the Oct. 14 call don't add up for Green Party candidate Sid Frere. It's ironic, he said, that Prime Minister Steven Harper, after dissolving a "dysfunctional Parliament", went on to list the accomplishments of his Conservative party during its tenure.

Mr. Frere, 67, says health care remains the top concern in Niagara West-Glanbrook and followed closely by the loss of jobs. The loss of the juice industry and tender fruit processing facilities were huge blows, said the retired elementary school principal and teacher. "Basically our food supply is now out of the country," and the government ignored the chance to help keep production of local produce.

The West Lincoln resident estimates it would be about three weeks before crisis hit if Canada lost access to imports. "We're not strong and we're not free as long as we have to depend on foreign foods.

Mr. Frere expects to see some big gains for the Green Party not only in Niagara West-Glanbrook but across the board. Local results saw Green votes increase from 902 to 3,214 in the last provincial election.

Mr. Frere said change is coming under the Green Party's environmental plan and carbon tax proposals that will benefit small businesses and income earners and put costs on major energy users, collecting revenue from the largest polluters such as oilsands companies. "Even if five seats are taken it will be opportunity to change the old-fashioned ways," he said.

Representing the Christian Heritage Party, for what will be his sixth election, is 38-year-old Dave Bylsma. Having been named the candidate about a year ago, he said he is ready to go despite the quick election call. "We have maintained a high end of advertising and awareness," said Mr. Bylsma. "All things considered, we're ready for this."

Mr. Bylsma, a West Lincoln resident, said he believes the CHP will see some growth this election, especially with some of the Conservative moves made since the last election, such as having some of the highest budgets in Canadian history.

"With the Conservatives having shown us they are not really conservative all, I think we may see some growth," he said, noting there has been growth in support over the years, "albeit small". "The CHP is about small government and less government intervention."

In addition to fiscal responsibility, Mr. Bylsma feels major issues this election include social issues such as "strengthinging of families" and same-sex marriage.

"We need a party with vision and with the CHP, we see ourselves as a party with vision," added Mr. Bylsma. "The Conservatives have had their day in the spotlight and weren't what they promised to be."

- With files by Joanne McDonald & Marcel Vander Wier