As the Ontario provincial election approaches on February 27, the mayors of Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon have made their positions clear on the leadership they believe is best suited for the province. While two mayors have publicly backed Premier Doug Ford, Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish has chosen to remain neutral.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has thrown his full support behind Premier Doug Ford and the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, citing the province’s major investments in Brampton’s infrastructure. Brown emphasized that the provincial government has delivered on key projects such as the LRT tunnel, a second hospital, and the new medical school, which he believes are critical to the city’s growth. He asserted that Ford has earned his endorsement by supporting these long-overdue developments and suggested that Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie would not be the right choice for Brampton or Peel Region. Brown, who previously led the Ontario PC Party before resigning in 2018, was direct in his criticism of Crombie’s tenure as Mississauga mayor, accusing her of stalling housing projects and raising taxes.
Crombie’s campaign swiftly responded to Brown’s remarks, with her spokesperson Bahoz Dara Aziz calling him a “failed leader” and accusing him of holding onto past grievances. The response highlighted Crombie’s focus on health care, stating that her priority remains ensuring that all Ontarians have access to a family doctor.
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish has chosen to take a non-partisan stance, stating that she is open to working with whoever wins the election. She emphasized the importance of cooperation at the municipal level and reiterated her call for the province to lower Mississauga’s share of the Peel Regional Police budget, which currently stands at over 60 percent.
Caledon Mayor Annette Groves has also announced her support for Premier Ford, crediting the PC government for its commitment to Caledon’s development. She pointed to funding for critical infrastructure, age-friendly initiatives, and the reduction of regional red tape in land-use planning as key reasons behind her endorsement. Groves believes that Ford’s leadership has given Caledon the tools it needs to plan for its future independently.
The role of Peel Region in Ontario’s governance has been a contentious issue over the past several years. Ford initially announced in 2023 that Peel would be dissolved by January 2025, allowing Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon to become independent municipalities. However, the premier reversed this decision in December 2023, citing concerns over potential tax increases and job losses. Crombie, then serving as Mississauga’s mayor, strongly opposed the reversal, while Brown supported Ford’s change in direction.
With the provincial election just weeks away, Ford has justified his decision to call an early vote by stating that his government requires a strong mandate in the face of economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. The PCs are looking to expand their majority government, while Crombie and opposition leaders Marit Stiles of the NDP and Mike Schreiner of the Green Party are aiming to challenge Ford’s continued leadership.
As the election campaign intensifies, the endorsements from Peel’s mayors highlight the complex political dynamics at play in one of Ontario’s most influential regions.