A high-profile dispute between the City of Mississauga and Paramount Fine Foods founder Mohamad Fakih has escalated into a public war of words after Fakih accused Mayor Carolyn Parrish of spreading false information about a $1.6 million naming-rights sponsorship dispute.
The controversy began when the City of Mississauga announced it would rename the Paramount Fine Foods Centre after alleging the restaurant chain had failed to pay millions of dollars owed under its sponsorship agreement over an extended period.
The city said the decision followed months of discussions and that legal action would be pursued to recover the outstanding funds.
Parrish said the municipality had attempted every reasonable solution before concluding that the city must move forward to protect taxpayer dollars.
Fakih, however, strongly rejected the city’s version of events in a video posted to Instagram, saying Paramount had not refused to pay and that the public narrative presented by the mayor was misleading.
“Quite honestly, I’m astounded by Mayor Parrish’s handling of this entire situation and the false statements that have been made,” Fakih said.
He claimed Paramount had already delivered cheques to the city covering the full amount owed under agreed payment terms, but alleged that Mississauga officials continued to add further conditions and unreasonable demands.
The City of Mississauga responded by saying it has been attempting for some time to collect the $1.6 million it says Paramount legally owes. The city also stated that the post-dated cheques it received do not cover the full amount and that it will not negotiate the matter publicly.
Officials said a court claim will be filed soon.
Fakih, who founded Paramount Fine Foods in 2006 after immigrating to Canada from Lebanon, said the sponsorship agreement became financially unworkable after he regained control of the company following a legal dispute with its largest shareholder last year.
He argued that the decision to end the naming-rights agreement was mutual and made after direct discussions with the mayor.
According to Fakih, Parrish’s suggestion that the city alone terminated the agreement is “completely false.” He said he has evidence, including communications, to support his position.
The prominent entrepreneur also emphasized that the debt was accumulated before he returned to lead the company, but said he remains committed to paying the agreed amount because of his respect for Mississauga residents and taxpayers.
Fakih expressed deep disappointment that the dispute had become public, saying Paramount Fine Foods has invested millions of dollars in Mississauga, created jobs, supported charities, and contributed to the city’s community life.
He also noted that he had previously received the Key to the City of Mississauga and had been appointed to the Order of Canada, making the current public dispute even more troubling for him.
“What is deeply disappointing is watching our mayor publicly target a Mississauga business that has invested millions into this city, created jobs, supported charities, and was honoured with a Key to the City,” Fakih said.
The dispute now places one of Mississauga’s best-known business figures at odds with city leadership over public money, sponsorship obligations, and how municipal disputes with local businesses should be handled.
Beginning June 1, the city will temporarily rename the facility the Mississauga Sports and Entertainment Centre while it searches for a new naming-rights partner.
The city will also take over food operations at the venue from Paramount during the transition.
The facility is one of Mississauga’s major sports and entertainment destinations and has long carried the Paramount Fine Foods name, making the sponsorship dispute both financially and symbolically significant.
As legal action looms, the disagreement appears likely to move from public statements and social media into the courts, where both sides may be forced to present documents, payment records, and communications supporting their competing versions of events.
For Mississauga residents, the dispute raises broader questions about taxpayer protection, corporate sponsorship accountability, municipal transparency, and the relationship between city hall and local businesses that have helped shape the community’s identity.