What matters to voters in Mississauga in the federal election

Mike Crawley · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 30, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

The voters of Mississauga person backed the winning enactment successful each of the past 4 national elections. 

That makes the metropolis a bully litmus trial of elector sentiment successful a run that's rolling retired amid U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of slapping crippling tariffs connected Canadian goods and adjacent forcing the state to go the 51st state. 

CBC News spoke to voters astatine random successful a Mississauga successful a supermarket parking lot, extracurricular a buying promenade and beside the city's main library. Here's what they had to accidental astir what matters astir to them heading into the April 28 national election. 

'Trump, that's my archetypal thought'     

Manuel Vieira is undecided astir however he'll ballot but is rather decisive erstwhile asked what contented is apical of mind.

"Trump, that's my archetypal thought," said Vieira. "If we don't person a.country, past there's nary constituent of worrying astir wellness attraction oregon thing else."

He says helium has voted some Liberal and Conservative successful the past and backed Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives successful past month's provincial election, specifically due to the fact that of Ford's stance against Trump's threats. 

'Inflation, taxes, tariffs'

This volition beryllium Waheed Hyder's archetypal national predetermination since becoming a Canadian citizen. He says "inflation, the effect of taxes and the tariffs" are what substance astir to him.

Hyder says helium has not decided which enactment he'll enactment but is present unfastened to voting Liberal since Justin Trudeau resigned.   

Whoever forms the government, Hyder says they request to enactment the radical archetypal successful their decisions.  

'Give backmost to Canadians'

For Tanisha Francois Cassel, the U.S. president is besides apical of mind.

"Obviously Trump, he's 1 of the issues," she said.

She says she's also acrophobic astir the affordability of housing and the outgo of post-secondary education.

She says governments should put much successful acquisition to marque it outgo less. "Give backmost to Canadians, and we're capable to springiness backmost to our economy."  

'Economic cognition and experience'

Asked what matters to her astir successful the election, Eniber Cabrera says it's "that Canada stays beardown arsenic a country, that we're independent and free."

She says the affordability of lodging and a steadfast system are besides important. 

What does that mean for who she's reasoning of supporting? "I would similar idiosyncratic that is beardown successful economical cognition and experience, who tin get america retired of this crisis," Cabrera said. 

'Cost of living'

Cerise Lee says Trump's tariff threats interest her, but it's not the lone happening that matters arsenic she considers however to vote.

"Also outgo of living, the wide outgo of food, and lodging for those who request it, those are issues that are worrisome for me," said Lee. 

Lee says she tries to probe what policies the leaders are proposing astir the issues — "especially the ones that deed location for me'' — before she makes up her caput however to vote.

'Actions much than words' 

Mississauga residents Bassam and Deena Majid say they're acrophobic astir the turmoil caused by the U.S. president and they're looking for politicians who'll bash much than conscionable talk. 

"We'd similar to spot actions much than words," said Bassam. "We perceive each benignant of bully things from everybody but would similar to spot action."

"I personally find the infinitesimal they're elected and they're sitting connected the chair, thing truly happens, and that's what's truthful frustrating," said Deena. 

Both accidental they consciousness the request for a alteration successful authorities and are leaning toward the Conservatives. 

'Stand up to Donald Trump' 

Ziyad Khan, a warehouse worker, believes the champion campaigner for premier curate is "whoever tin basal up to Donald Trump" and champion support Canada from the tariff threats, but says helium hasn't decided yet who that is.  

Trump "wants to marque Canada the 51st state, he's threatening to annex Canada," said Khan. "We privation to amusement him that we volition ne'er beryllium the 51st state, that we volition ever beryllium an autarkic country." 

Khan says helium "wouldn't person voted for Trudeau" had helium stayed connected arsenic Liberal leader. "I deliberation helium made a batch of arguable decisions and alienated a batch of Canadians," helium said.

'Speak for the mediate class'

The affordability of basal items specified arsenic nutrient and lodging are what matters astir to Melissa Shin. 

"I request idiosyncratic to truly talk for the middle-class people," said Shin. 

She says she intends to ballot for Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives due to the fact that the Liberal authorities "didn't bash the work" that needed to beryllium done. 

'Create much jobs'

Zandro Chivinda, a plumber who works successful Mississauga, says helium wants a authorities that volition "create much jobs, little involvement rates and marque beingness much affordable."  

Chivinda says a batch of radical are struggling financially close now. "We don't privation to bargain luxury stuff, we conscionable privation to beryllium capable to spend living," helium said. 

He besides says it's important for politicians to perceive to the radical and support their promises. "They ever archer america what we privation to hear, but they don't springiness america what we truly want," helium said.