Carolyn Parrish called it a "victory" for Mississauga after being elected the city's next mayor in a byelection with just over a quarter of eligible voters casting their ballots.
The former city councillor and federal MP consistently led in opinion polls during the campaign, despite declining most debates and media appearances, which her rivals criticized.
A large crowd of supporters at the Mississauga Convention Centre cheered Monday night as CBC News projected Parrish would defeat her nearest rival, Alvin Tedjo.
Today we celebrate not just a victory at the polls but a victory for the future of our city," Parrish told her supporters in her victory speech. "This victory is your victory.
Parrish, with 35 years in politics, has pledged to support those struggling with the rising cost of living by constraining the city budget, although she did not set hard targets or release a costed platform. Housing and affordability were among the top concerns for voters as Mississauga has grown to become the third-largest city in Ontario and the seventh-largest in Canada.
In his concession speech, Tedjo said he messaged Parrish to congratulate her and wished her well. He noted that his support six months ago was at just four percent.
She is now the leader of all of us, and it is in our interest to work together to make sure that we have the best city," Tedjo said. "She has spent her life fighting for our community, and I look forward to continuing to work with her on council.
The City of Mississauga reported that 25.71 percent of eligible voters participated, up from more than 21 percent in the 2022 municipal election.
Parrish received 43,494 votes, while Tedjo garnered 35,005 votes, according to unofficial results. Dipika Damerla came in third with 27,119 votes, and Stephen Dasko was fourth with 22,340 votes. Tedjo, Damerla, and Dasko will return to their roles as city councillors.
Twenty candidates vied for the mayoral position, which opened when former mayor Bonnie Crombie resigned in January to lead the Ontario Liberal Party. Parrish will be the third person to hold the post since 1978, following Crombie and long-serving former mayor Hazel McCallion.
After launching into her prepared speech, Parrish declared that the region would be stronger with "three mayors that actually get along." She emphasized the importance of working together to secure funding from Queen's Park and Ottawa.
The byelection winner will serve as mayor for the remainder of the 2022-2026 term. Ontario Premier Doug Ford congratulated Parrish, expressing his eagerness to work together to build a stronger Mississauga and Ontario. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also congratulated Parrish, highlighting her record in public service and the collaborative potential for addressing regional issues.
Natalie Hart, endorsed by Crombie, will be the next councillor for Ward 5 according to the city's unofficial results, following a competitive race against Danny Singh.
Sara Jabakhanji is a general assignment reporter with CBC News in Toronto. You can reach her at sara.jabakhanji@cbc.ca.
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