These are the top candidates running for mayor in Mississauga and what they are promising
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Mississauga voters are set to go to the polls June 10 in a special byelection to choose a new mayor. There are 16 candidates registered to run in the election, but a few have been polling high enough to be contenders. Here's a look at the top candidates in the race and their key promises.
Mississauga voters are set to go to the polls June 10 in a special byelection to choose a new mayor. There are 16 candidates registered to run in the election, but a few have been polling high enough to be contenders. Here's a look at the top candidates in the race and their key promises.
The frontrunner in the race, Parrish was a federal MP for 13 years before moving to municipal politics in 2006.
She enjoyed a wide lead in the polls earlier in the race but saw it evaporate over the past few weeks following a decision not to attend debates, citing "a new style of politics and the safety of her staff. The decision came after she was slammed for comments she made at an early event on transgender bathrooms and federal refugee programs. Parrish has said her opponents have unfairly taken her comments out of context.
"I've had some controversial issues in my past. I've been threatened with all kinds of physical damage and all the rest of it," she told CP24 in a recent sit-down interview when asked about her decision not to attend further debates. "I wasn't concerned about myself so much. I'm quite used to it, but I was concerned about the threats against the staff on my campaign, so I just decided I would spend the time meeting and greeting. I've had probably 40 or 50 large group meetings, and just wanted to protect the integrity of the campaign."
Parrish said she didn't believe that her decision made her unaccountable to voters.
"I've been accountable for 18 years on city council. I'm outspoken. I speak on every issue. People who follow politics know exactly where I stand on everything, and I've put out three pieces of literature, right?" she said.
Parrish cites housing, particularly affordable housing, as the top issue in the election.
