Fourteen candidates for mayor. Housing intensification, a cluster of AI data centre proposals, and congestion are the fights.
Core issues
What this election is actually about
Housing affordability and intensification
Fourplexes as-of-right, Oct. 2023 — Council voted on allowing four homes on qualifying low-rise lots. The decision was important to Mississauga's federal Housing Accelerator Fund application; roughly $113M was at stake. Council rejected fourplexes and then-mayor Bonnie Crombie used strong-mayor powers to implement them. In Jan. 2025 the Housing Task Force brought a 50% residential development-charge reduction, and 100% for qualifying 3-bedroom purpose-built rentals.
Several AI datacentre proposals
In July 2026 Council proposed a pause of up to one year on large-scale data centres while the City studies infrastructure, water, electricity, environmental and land-use impacts. Mayor Carolyn Parrish did not vote on the motion, saying the chair of Council remains neutral. Bonnie Crombie criticised the decision not to vote. Residents have been organising against a proposed hyperscale facility.
Transportation & congestion
The 2024 budget put $87.9M into hybrid-bus acquisitions and nearly $4M into 2024 MiWay service improvements, with nearly $2B planned over 10 years for transit capital. Candidates differ on the Hazel McCallion LRT, a Dundas East LRT link to Toronto, all-day two-way GO on the Milton corridor, and how much to prioritise roads.
The incumbent
The record you are voting on
Carolyn Parrish INCUMBENT
Running for Mayor of Mississauga · in office since 2024
Forty years of picking fights, two years into the mayor's chair, and still making headlines on a regular basis.
Key votes and spending
Council decisions that shaped the issues above
| Decision | Result | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fourplexes as-of-right, Oct. 2023 | Council rejected four homes on qualifying low-rise lots; Mayor Bonnie Crombie then used strong-mayor powers to implement them | ~$113M in federal Housing Accelerator Fund money at stake | |
| Housing Task Force incentives, Jan. 2025 | Approved — 50% residential development-charge reduction; 100% for qualifying 3-bedroom purpose-built rentals | Foregone revenue varies by project | |
| Affordable Rental Housing CIP expansion, Mar. 2026 | Approved — program envelope increased | $44M to $70M, with $26M from federal Housing Accelerator Fund reserves | |
| Pause/review of large-scale data centres, July 2026 | Proposed up to a 1-year pause while the City studies infrastructure, water, electricity, environmental and land-use impacts; Mayor Parrish did not vote | — | |
| Transit investment, 2024 budget | Approved | $87.9M for hybrid buses; nearly $4M in 2024 MiWay service improvements; nearly $2B planned over 10 years for transit capital |
The other candidates
Drawn from published platforms and public statements
Aamir Bhatti
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
A certified candidate with no public record found beyond his name and filing date.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Unclear
Alvin Tedjo
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
Parrish's biggest challenger, running an urbanist platform to make Mississauga a big city rather than a suburb.
- AI data centres
- No new data centres
- Environment
- Sustainability-oriented growth
- Housing
- Missing middle, more density
Amjad Jilani
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
An outsider running on taxpayer protection, audits and community security patrols.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Development with community benefits
Ana Luisa Vasquez De Espinal
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
The only one of the race's low-profile candidates with a documented platform: inspect the infrastructure first, pause the data centres, and make the tax bill readable.
- AI data centres
- Backs the moratorium
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Unclear
Bonnie Crombie
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
The mayor who left for provincial politics, running to return to the chair she vacated two years ago.
- AI data centres
- Wants a clear position taken
- Environment
- Pro-development with sustainability measures
- Housing
- Pro-housing supply
David Shaw
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
A repeat right-wing candidate running on lower taxes, anti-mandate politics and culture-war themes.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Affordability, no detailed plan
Dipika Damerla
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
A former provincial cabinet minister running on basic services, tax restraint and an independent Auditor General.
- AI data centres
- Don't subsidise data centres
- Environment
- Green space and environment
- Housing
- Affordability, cautious on intensification
Fadi Naami
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
A Mississauga realtor campaigning largely through Facebook, with no live campaign site.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Unclear
Frank Fang
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
A repeat candidate running on eliminating property tax and a crime-reward program.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Unclear
George Tavares (withdrawn)
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
Withdrew June 4, 2026. A repeat "smart city" candidate running on technology, efficiency and transparency.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Affordability and planning
Gord Elliott
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
A self-employed printer and former federal independent candidate running on small business, tenant protections and open developer-council meetings.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Affordability and tenant protections
Karam Ahmed
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
A first-time candidate from the towing industry running on lower property taxes and more police support against auto theft.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Unclear
Mike Matulewicz
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
A 34-year police veteran running on surveillance technology, policing costs and an independent Auditor General.
- AI data centres
- Safeguards, no stated vote
- Environment
- Environmental monitoring
- Housing
- Affordable housing on city land
Mohsin Khan
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
A certified candidate with no public record found beyond his name and filing date.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Unclear
- Housing
- Unclear
Rahul Mehta (withdrawn)
Running for Mayor of Mississauga
Withdrew June 19, 2026. A Stop Sprawl Peel urbanist running on density, transit and climate.
- AI data centres
- Unclear
- Environment
- Climate and local food systems
- Housing
- Denser housing
Side by side
Pick who you want next to each other
“Unclear” means we could not find a documented position, not that none exists.
| Issue | Carolyn Parrish INC | Aamir Bhatti | Alvin Tedjo | Amjad Jilani | Ana Luisa Vasquez De Espinal | Bonnie Crombie | David Shaw | Dipika Damerla | Fadi Naami | Frank Fang | George Tavares (withdrawn) | Gord Elliott | Karam Ahmed | Mike Matulewicz | Mohsin Khan | Rahul Mehta (withdrawn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI data centres | Review and pause, but did not vote | Unclear | No new data centres | Unclear | Backs the moratorium | Wants a clear position taken | Unclear | Don't subsidise data centres | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Safeguards, no stated vote | Unclear | Unclear |
| Environment | Unclear | Unclear | Sustainability-oriented growth | Unclear | Unclear | Pro-development with sustainability measures | Unclear | Green space and environment | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Environmental monitoring | Unclear | Climate and local food systems |
| Housing | Strongly pro-building | Unclear | Missing middle, more density | Development with community benefits | Unclear | Pro-housing supply | Affordability, no detailed plan | Affordability, cautious on intensification | Unclear | Unclear | Affordability and planning | Affordability and tenant protections | Unclear | Affordable housing on city land | Unclear | Denser housing |
| Land use | Pro-growth and intensification | Unclear | Strongly pro-intensification | Development with community benefits | Unclear | Strongly pro-intensification | Wants planning changes | Development with safeguards | Unclear | Unclear | Wants better planning | Unclear | Unclear | Housing on city land | Unclear | Anti-sprawl |
| Policing | Resigned over the budget | Unclear | Police and community safety | Very strong policing focus | Unclear | Strong public-safety support | Supports public safety | Strong public-safety emphasis | Unclear | Strong crime focus | Unclear | Unclear | More police support | Policing background plus reform | Unclear | Unclear |
| Public funds | Taxpayer and fiscal focus | Unclear | Lower taxes plus service investment | Anti-waste, anti-tax | Inspect first, spend second | Fiscal restraint | Opposes tax increases | Spending and accountability platform | Unclear | Eliminate property tax | Responsible government | Unclear | Lower property taxes | Spending control | Unclear | Unclear |
| Transit | Pro-transit and infrastructure | Unclear | Rapid-transit grid | Congestion and roads | Inspect before you spend | Strong transit record | Unclear | Make the buses run on time | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Transit funded by a fuel levy | Unclear | Sustainable transportation |
| Transparency | Accountability, and some broken promises | Unclear | Modern government | Audits | A tax bill you can read | Results and accountability | Greater accountability | Independent Auditor General | Unclear | Unclear | Transparency and integrity | Open developer meetings | Unclear | Auditor General and public reporting | Unclear | Unclear |
Documented position Opposes Unclear or partial
Money and donors
- Campaign finance for 2026 is not yet public. Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 financial statements are released electronically after the election, and an electronic copy has to be requested from the City.
Local coverage
Reporting we drew on
CITY OF MISSISSAUGA
MISSISSAUGA VOTES
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