Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish is seizing a federal election promise to demand action on the cost-of-living crunch—starting with disability support. On Wednesday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, campaigning in Hamilton, vowed to double the Canada Disability Benefit, a pledge Parrish latched onto as a lifeline for struggling residents.
“People are squeezed—groceries, rent, kids’ clothes, heat,” Singh said, pitching relief for the middle class and beyond. His plan to boost the federal disability payment from $200 to $400 a month struck a chord with Parrish, who’s now daring the other parties to match it.
At Mississauga’s general committee meeting, she didn’t hold back: “There’s a desperate need for more support—federal and provincial. Too many on disability can’t eat without food banks.” She urged councillors to back her push, suggesting a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre: “Step up, fellas. This is a game-changer to lift people out of poverty—jump on it.”
Nearly 500,000 Ontarians lean on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), capped at $1,368 monthly, while the federal benefit lags far behind. With Canadians voting April 28, Carney holds a slim polling edge over Poilievre—Singh trails but his disability pledge has Parrish’s ear.
Mississauga’s mayor isn’t waiting for Ottawa to figure it out—she’s calling the shots now.