Neighbourhood safety, transit service and housing are among the issues facing Mississauga Ward 5 voters as incumbent Natalie Hart seeks re-election against candidates proposing changes to city services and spending, according to The Local’s candidate tracker.
The ward extends from Eglinton Avenue north to Highway 407, with Highway 427 on its eastern boundary and Fletcher’s Creek to the west. The Local published its candidate profiles and platform summaries on Oct. 5.
Hart’s stated priorities include regulating rooming houses, advancing bus rapid transit and improving neighbourhood safety. She first won the seat in the 2024 by-election after Carolyn Parrish left council to run for mayor.
Before joining council, Hart was general manager of the Malton BIA. She has supported missing-middle housing, including fourplexes, and sits on the city’s Budget Committee and Stormwater Advisory Committee.
Hart also proposed the Ward 5 Neighbourhood Standards Program last year to address property standards, parking and noise complaints. The Local reported that the pilot has resulted in more than 22,000 parking tickets, but some residents have said they have seen little improvement.
Candidates propose service and safety changes
Insurance advisor Aruna Anand proposes additional street lighting, quarterly safety meetings and business roundtables. Her platform also calls for a system to track residents’ city-service inquiries, better real-time transit information and stronger enforcement of neighbourhood cleanliness standards.
Anand founded Fuelling Healthy Minds, which allows corporations to fund student meals at local schools. She says it has provided 550,000 meals since 2019.
Ismail Bawa, a police constable who has served in Toronto and Peel, proposes expanded bus service, youth recreation and mentorship programs, and less red tape for housing development and small businesses. He also wants a hospital and university in Ward 5 and a fairer arrangement for the community concerning funds generated by Pearson airport.
Raghavan Babu Bhogaiah’s platform focuses on street safety, bylaw enforcement and ways for residents to raise concerns. His website says he has 17 years of accounting experience.
Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal proposes freezing property taxes and councillor office budgets, establishing a property standards enforcement unit and taking action against illegal rooming houses. He also calls for more visible police patrols and faster response times.
Michael Anthony Perretta, a chartered professional accountant and Mississauga real estate brokerage owner, identifies crime reduction, affordable housing, improved services and efficient spending as priorities. He also opposes tax increases.
Rosemarie Sanchez Sanchez, a business and marketing coach who ran in the 2024 Ward 5 by-election, emphasizes resident input, local businesses and opportunities. Her social media posts also discuss walkability, transit development and school safety.
The Local found no online platform at publication for Jamie Dookie or Danny Singh. Dookie previously ran for council and mayor. Singh worked in Parrish’s Ward 5 office from 2014 to 2022 and lost to Hart in the 2024 by-election.
