Allen was born in Glasgow, Scotland and immigrated to Canada as a child in 1963. His father, a shipwright came over to Canada to work at the Collingwood shipyards. He would later to transfer to the Port Weller Dry Docks located on the Welland Canal where Allen's family would settle.
In 2004, Allen travelled to Africa to oversee the clearing of landmine sites and the construction of women's co-ops as part of the Canadian Autoworkers, Canada Social Justice Fund committee.[2]
In 2007 Allen spearheaded the creation of Genesis Court, a non-profitaffordable housing complex with support services that would help people who were at risk to turn their lives around. Through the planning stages of Genesis court it would eventually become part of the Bethlehem Housing and Support Services organization, which includes Bethlehem Place.
Allen was also a member of the Pelham Library Board, the Golden Horseshoe Social Action Committee and the Niagara Health Coalition.[3]
During the 40th Parliament Allen served as the critic for Skills, Training and Apprenticeships and Food Safety and the deputy critic for Agriculture and Food Security[6] (Canadian Food Inspection Agency). He also served for a period as New Democrat Caucus chair.
Allen was re-elected on May 2, 2011, beating Conservative Leanna Villella by over 1000 votes. Allen was one of 103 New Democrats elected, a record for the party and the first time in their history serving as the Official Opposition. Allen was the Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food in Thomas Mulcair's Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet.
On October 19, 2015, Allen lost his seat to Liberal candidate Vance Badawey.
Allen ran in the 2019 federal election in Niagara Centre, where he placed third, with 26.69% of the vote. He ran in the 2021 federal election in Hamilton Mountain, placing second with 32.4% of the vote.
Poppy Bill
In November 2009, Allen introduced a private members bill intended to support the Royal Canadian Legion's annual Poppy Campaign by eliminating the GST from the purchase of poppies and poppy wreaths. The taxing of poppies was estimated to cost Legions about $780,000 a year.[7] The money raised by the legions in the Poppy Campaign is used for important services like dental care, replacing broken roofs, supporting meals-on-wheels programs and more.[8] After almost a full year of pressure, both the Provincial Liberal Government and Federal Conservative Government finally agreed to remove each of their portions of the new HST (formerly PST and GST) from the poppy purchases. Canada's Legions now have approximately $780,000 more a year to operate their services.
Opposition to Homolka pardon
In May 2010, Allen met with Talin French-Doyle, niece of Kristen French who presented him with a petition containing over 1,700 signatures[9] asking for the government to create legislation to prevent Karla Homolka, who was involved in French's murder, from receiving a pardon. Under the law at the time, Homolka would have been eligible to apply for a pardon in the summer of 2010.
Allen introduced a Private Member's Bill that would have effectively fast tracked the portion of Bill C-23 (An Act to Amend The Criminal Records Act). This would have prevented the pardon, and allowed for proper debate of the remaining portion of the bill. When there was hesitation of the Government and Official Opposition sides to go through with Allen's Private Members Bill, he immediately offered it to the government to ensure that the right thing was done. It is because of this pressure that Allen was able to successfully negotiate a deal with Conservative Public Safety MinisterVic Toews to split the Bill C-23 into two bills and was able to fast-track the new Bill C-23a which barred Homolka from receiving a pardon. The bill was passed on the final sitting day of the House of Commons 2010 Winter Session, and Homolka did not receive a pardon.[10]
