Carolyn Parrish, a former Liberal MP and city councillor, has emerged victorious in the Mississauga mayoral by-election held on June 10. In a post-election video, Ms. Parrish expressed her commitment to serving all residents, regardless of their voting choice. She emphasized, “I will be there for everybody whether they voted for me or they didn’t. That’s my job.”
Grateful for the support and trust of the community, Ms. Parrish pledged to work towards building a stronger and more vibrant Mississauga for everyone, as stated on the X platform.
The unofficial results of the by-election revealed that Carolyn Parrish secured 43,494 votes, as reported in a city news release. City Councillor Alvin Tedjo followed in second place with 35,005 votes, while fellow Councillor Stephen Dasko garnered 22,408 votes.
Notably, voter turnout for the by-election was approximately 25%, with over 138,500 individuals casting their votes.
Prior to her mayoral victory, Carolyn Parrish had a notable political career, serving as an MP for the federal Liberal Party and later as an independent MP. She transitioned to municipal politics and was elected as a city councillor for Mississauga in 2014.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Mayor Bonnie Crombie, who assumed leadership of the provincial Liberal Party. Ms. Crombie’s resignation in December 2023 led to a series of interim mayors, culminating in the election of Carolyn Parrish.
Mayoral Agenda
During her campaign, Ms. Parrish outlined her vision for Mississauga, focusing on key issues such as housing affordability, cost of living, transportation, and public safety.
Her plans to address housing affordability include streamlining the building process and establishing an advisory panel of local developers. Additionally, she aims to support rezoning initiatives to convert vacant properties into mixed-use developments.
To combat the rising cost of living, Ms. Parrish proposed quarterly budget meetings with each ward, advocating for equitable federal and provincial funding, and maintaining low property taxes.
Improving public transportation is another priority for the mayor-elect, who intends to enhance routes and services, increase bus shelters, and promote safe cycling infrastructure.
Enhancing public safety is a key component of Ms. Parrish’s agenda, which includes implementing cargo scanners at transportation hubs, monitoring police-to-population ratios, and advocating for bail reform and stricter penalties for crimes.
