A subway for Mississauga, lower taxes and fighting crime highlight tense mayoral race

Coming off the heels of an argumentative debate at Food Banks Mississauga on October 1 that left many residents walking away feeling perplexed, with more questions than answers after candidates repeatedly sparred with each other instead of directly addressing the main topic—affordability—they went head-to-head at a more civil mayoral debate on Monday.

Incumbent Carolyn Parrish faced criticism from her three main opponents, even though she wasn’t there.

“Carolyn, why do you think you don’t need to show up?” Alvin Tedjo asked.

“Residents have been asking for the past two years, ‘Where are you?’ Now you’re reapplying for a job, and you don’t want to show up for the interview.

Residents deserve better than a part-time mayor.

Our voters deserve better than you hiding behind your desk and from your record of tax increases and rising crime.

Mississauga deserves better.” Tedjo’s criticism of rising taxes came after he was one of only three Mississauga council members at the Region of Peel who approved a massive 23.3 percent, $144 million police budget increase for 2025 (a decision that was widely criticized and described as an “utter failure of governance” by Toronto’s former police board chair), the biggest driver of an overall 9.2 percent property tax hike that year.

Tedjo also voted against a motion by fellow mayoral candidate Dipika Damerla earlier this year to appoint a permanent auditor general to keep City Hall spending in check and taxes down.

Hosted at City Hall by POLICORNER on October 5, Parrish did not show up for Monday’s debate, leaving an empty podium on stage next to Bonnie Crombie, Dipika Damerla and Tedjo.

Crombie also levelled criticism at Parrish and said her absence, though irresponsible, would at least help ensure a more constructive debate compared to what unfolded at the previous events.

“We've demonstrated leadership in the past, and I know we will again,” Crombie said during her opening remarks.

“I know it's going to be an amicable conversation, not like in the previous two debates.” Crombie later declared, “Mississauga, it's time to have a subway,” highlighting one of the key parts of her vision for the city, a new subway line extending from Toronto’s Bloor Line at Kipling Station into the heart of Mississauga.

Crombie connected the subway extension to easing congestion across Mississauga, which has had a significant impact on productivity and quality of life in the city.

“If it's cost-effective, people will leave their cars, and they will use more public transit.