MISSISSAUGA-LAKESHORE: 2022 ONTARIO ELECTION PROFILE

AFFORDABILITY AND FORD'S COVID-19 PERFORMANCE LIKELY TO BE ISSUES

THE RIDING:

Mississauga-lakeshore is the city's most southern riding with sizeable waterfront along Lake Ontario. The population of the riding has shrunk by 349 people since 2016, according to the 2021 census, going from 117,444 to 117,095.

The average age in the riding at 43.1 years is higher than the Ontario-wide average, which is 41.8. The 2016 census found that the average before tax household incomes in the riding were $130,832, over $30,000 more than the Ontario-wide average of $97,856.

The 2016 census also showed that around 28.5 per cent of Mississauga-lakeshore's population are visible minorities. Those with a South Asian background comprise the largest of the minority groups.

THE RACE:

Brian Crombie, None of the Above Party

Rudy Cuzzetto, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario

Renata Cynarska, New Blue Party of Ontario

Julia Kole, New Democratic Party

Elizabeth Mendes, Ontario Liberal Party

David Zeni, Green Party A of Ontario

THE ISSUES:

Mississauga-lakeshore, like many GTA communities, has seen an exponential increase in the cost of living, from recent hikes in food and fuel prices to a housing market that has become increasingly out of reach for many. The candidates and party leaders who are able to convince voters they have the best plan to keep the cost of living down, without hurting existing homeowners, may fare better in Mississauga-lakeshore.

Mississauga was one of the most impacted jurisdictions during COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, both in terms of spread of the virus, health-care strain and longstanding restrictions on individuals and businesses. The election could be a kind of referendum on Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford's performance over the last two years.

BACKGROUND:

After four consecutive Liberal wins in Mississauga-lakeshore and the riding's predecessor Mississauga South, Cuzzetto won the riding for the Progressive Conservatives in 2018, edging Charles Sousa, who was a cabinet minister in Kathleen Wynne's government, by nearly 4,000 votes.

The NDP had a historically strong showing in 2018, with two-time candidate Boris Rosolak nearing 20 per cent of the vote of the riding in that election.

Cuzzetto's win was part of a Conservative sweep of Mississauga that helped push the Liberals from a majority government to seven seats across Ontario and to lose official party status.