TORONTO, August 14, 2026 – A new poll released on August 14 shows incumbent Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish and former mayor Bonnie Crombie are currently tied in voter support. But beyond the race between the two candidates, the poll also shows a clear shift in what local residents are most concerned about, with affordability, taxes and housing now ranking ahead of crime.
The latest Liaison Strategies survey shows that among voters who have decided or are leaning toward a candidate, Parrish and Crombie are both at 35 per cent support. Dipika Damerla has 18 per cent, while Alvin Tedjo has 12 per cent.
Parrish is the current mayor, while Crombie previously served three consecutive terms as Mississauga mayor. Both have strong name recognition. The main candidates’ campaign messages have also clearly focused on issues such as property taxes, cost of living, housing and public safety.
Beyond the voting numbers, the survey also shows that residents’ top concerns have changed.
In a survey last October, crime was the top issue for Mississauga residents, at 29 per cent. In the latest poll, affordability has moved into first place at 19 per cent, followed by taxes at 17 per cent and housing at 16 per cent. Crime and traffic are both at 13 per cent.
For many Mississauga residents, daily living costs, property taxes and housing pressure have become more immediate concerns than crime.
Although 45 per cent of respondents still said Mississauga feels less safe compared with one year ago, only 25 per cent said they would support increasing the police budget if it meant higher property taxes or cuts to other government spending. Forty-nine per cent said they would oppose that move.
At the same time, 46 per cent of respondents said Mississauga is currently heading in the wrong direction, while 32 per cent said it is moving in the right direction. On Parrish’s performance as mayor, 38 per cent said they approve, while 42 per cent said they disapprove.
The survey was conducted from August 11 to 12 and interviewed 1,000 Mississauga residents.
Based on this poll, public safety remains important, but the cost of living, taxes and housing have become more direct day-to-day pressures. In the upcoming mayoral election, the candidate who can address housing, traffic and public safety while keeping residents’ tax burden under control may have a stronger chance of gaining voter support.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
