Ontario Premier Doug Ford mentioned that he typically avoids getting involved in municipal politics, especially during mayoral elections. However, he made an exception during his visit to Mississauga on Wednesday morning.
While in the city to announce a provincial plan aimed at making it easier for people to purchase new homes, a reporter asked him towards the end of a 35-minute press conference about a potential showdown between political rivals in the upcoming Mississauga mayoral race set for October.
Mayor Carolyn Parrish, who was present with Ford during Wednesday’s housing announcement, stated earlier that she intends to run for re-election one more time.
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish.
On the other hand, Bonnie Crombie, who resigned as mayor of Canada’s seventh-largest city just over two years ago to lead the Ontario Liberal Party (from which she has since stepped down), indicated she wouldn’t dismiss another bid for the mayoral position in Mississauga.
Crombie’s Liberals faced a heavy defeat against Ford’s Progressive Conservatives in the February 2025 provincial election, with the latter securing a third consecutive majority government-a feat not achieved by any party since 1959.
The Liberal Party finished second in popular votes but ended up with only 14 seats, placing third behind both the PCs and NDP.
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Crombie not only saw her party lose decisively but also failed to win her seat in Mississauga East-Cooksville, where she lost to Conservative candidate Silvia Gualtieri.
This led Crombie to announce her resignation as Liberal leader earlier this year on January 14.
When asked if he would get involved should Crombie challenge Parrish for the mayoral seat later in 2026, Ford didn’t hold back. The premier and former Liberal leader have had a publicly contentious relationship marked by disputes and sharp criticisms of each other’s policies.
“You know something, I never get involved in municipal elections, but I will send an army down here to make sure I support Mayor Parrish,” said Ford. Earlier in the press conference, he praised Mississauga’s current mayor, calling Parrish “an absolute champ.”
Former mayor of Mississauga Bonnie Crombie.
Thinking back to Crombie’s tenure as mayor, Ford expressed his views on how things were handled under her leadership: “Mississauga was an absolute disaster under Bonnie Crombie; rose taxes like they’d never seen before, cut off everything about housing. She was an absolute disaster. So what I say to (former) mayor Bonnie Crombie – bring it on. Let’s go. We’re ready.”
The next municipal election is scheduled for October 26.
After stepping down from her role as leader of the Ontario Liberals in January, Crombie shared a statement expressing her excitement about spending more time with family and welcoming her first grandchild while allowing space for new leadership within the party.
However, bolstered by encouraging poll results last October, Crombie suggested then that she wouldn’t rule out another attempt at regaining her position as Mississauga’s mayor. She succeeded longtime Mayor Hazel Mc Callion in 2014 and won re-election twice before departing from office in January 2024 when she became leader of Ontario’s Liberal Party.
Crombie officially resigned from being leader of the Liberals earlier this year but announced last September that she planned to step down after receiving only 57 percent support during a leadership vote at the party’s annual general meeting.
Parrish has been active in politics for many years; she served on Mississauga city council for over a decade while also holding an MP position in Ottawa for an equal length of time. She won a byelection for mayor in June 2024 after succeeding Crombie.
The current Mayor told INsauga. com late last year that she aims not to serve beyond one additional term.
Parrish also mentioned at that time that she welcomed talk about Crombie potentially seeking another chance at leading Mississauga-something she’d view as “a fabulous challenge,” adding “I’d love it. We don’t think alike.
“… I would look forward to a debate with Bonnie Crombie.” INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies Last 30 Days: 35,462 Votes All Time: 1,269,162 Votes 837 VOTES
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Crombie not only saw her party lose decisively but also failed to win her seat in Mississauga East-Cooksville, where she lost to Conservative candidate Silvia Gualtieri.
This led Crombie to announce her resignation as Liberal leader earlier this year on January 14.
When asked if he would get involved should Crombie challenge Parrish for the mayoral seat later in 2026, Ford didn’t hold back. The premier and former Liberal leader have had a publicly contentious relationship marked by disputes and sharp criticisms of each other’s policies.
“You know something, I never get involved in municipal elections, but I will send an army down here to make sure I support Mayor Parrish,” said Ford. Earlier in the press conference, he praised Mississauga’s current mayor, calling Parrish “an absolute champ.”
Former mayor of Mississauga Bonnie Crombie.
Thinking back to Crombie’s tenure as mayor, Ford expressed his views on how things were handled under her leadership: “Mississauga was an absolute disaster under Bonnie Crombie; rose taxes like they’d never seen before, cut off everything about housing. She was an absolute disaster. So what I say to (former) mayor Bonnie Crombie – bring it on. Let’s go. We’re ready.”
The next municipal election is scheduled for October 26.
After stepping down from her role as leader of the Ontario Liberals in January, Crombie shared a statement expressing her excitement about spending more time with family and welcoming her first grandchild while allowing space for new leadership within the party.
However, bolstered by encouraging poll results last October, Crombie suggested then that she wouldn’t rule out another attempt at regaining her position as Mississauga’s mayor. She succeeded longtime Mayor Hazel Mc Callion in 2014 and won re-election twice before departing from office in January 2024 when she became leader of Ontario’s Liberal Party.
Crombie officially resigned from being leader of the Liberals earlier this year but announced last September that she planned to step down after receiving only 57 percent support during a leadership vote at the party’s annual general meeting.
Parrish has been active in politics for many years; she served on Mississauga city council for over a decade while also holding an MP position in Ottawa for an equal length of time. She won a byelection for mayor in June 2024 after succeeding Crombie.
The current Mayor told INsauga. com late last year that she aims not to serve beyond one additional term.Parrish also mentioned at that time that she welcomed talk about Crombie potentially seeking another chance at leading Mississauga-something she’d view as “a fabulous challenge,” adding “I’d love it. We don’t think alike.
“… I would look forward to a debate with Bonnie Crombie.” INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies Last 30 Days: 35,462 Votes All Time: 1,269,162 Votes 837 VOTES
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