Mississauga-Lakeshore by-election: Liberals still strong in 905

By winning the by-election in the federal riding of Mississauga-Lakeshore on Monday night, Charles Sousa demonstrates that the Liberal Party of Canada is still capable of winning in the 905, which has been rather fertile ground for the Conservative Party of Canada for several years.   

Former Ontario Finance Minister under Kathleen Wynne's government from 2013 to 2018, Charles Sousa was a high profile candidate. He had lost his election in 2018 after entering provincial politics in 2007 in Mississauga South. This Liberal victory therefore confirms that the Liberal Party is still attracting strong candidates for an aging government. Justin Trudeau has been at the helm of government since 2015.  

Charles Sousa actually increased the Liberal vote from 44.94 per cent in the 2021 general election to 51.1 per cent this time around, despite the fact that this is a by-election. His closest opponent, Conservative candidate Ron Chhinzer, received 37.3% of the vote. So it's impressive that the ruling party increased its margin, because many experts always say that a by-election is a mid-term referendum on the ruling party. 

During this campaign, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, did not seem to offer any tangible policies to combat some of the biggest problems currently facing our economy: inflation, housing and labour shortages. The Liberals are at least offering solutions to these problems. It seems that Poilievre's style did not succeed in these by-elections.  

In addition, the Kathleen Wynne element, often viewed negatively, no longer seems to be a determining factor as several of her former cabinet members are in elected positions, both federally and municipally. 

Also a former banker, Charles Sousa would certainly bolster Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in a volatile economic situation. He could also be a potential replacement for Ms. Freeland if she decides to pursue an international career as rumoured.  

The riding had been vacant since last summer when Liberal Sven Spengemann left to take a job at the United Nations.