What matters to voters in Mississauga in the federal election

The voters of Mississauga have backed the winning party in each of the past four federal elections. 

That makes the city a good litmus test of voter sentiment in a campaign that's rolling out amid U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of slapping crippling tariffs on Canadian goods and even forcing the country to become the 51st state. 

CBC News spoke to voters at random in a Mississauga in a supermarket parking lot, outside a shopping mall and beside the city's main library. Here's what they had to say about what matters most to them heading into the April 28 federal election. 

'Trump, that's my first thought'     

Manuel Vieira is undecided about how he'll vote but is quite decisive when asked what issue is top of mind.

"Trump, that's my first thought," said Vieira. "If we don't have a.country, then there's no point of worrying about health care or anything else."

He says he has voted both Liberal and Conservative in the past and backed Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives in last month's provincial election, specifically because of Ford's stance against Trump's threats. 

'Inflation, taxes, tariffs'

This will be Waheed Hyder's first federal election since becoming a Canadian citizen. He says "inflation, the effect of taxes and the tariffs" are what matter most to him.

Hyder says he has not decided which party he'll support but is now open to voting Liberal since Justin Trudeau resigned.   

Whoever forms the government, Hyder says they need to put the people first in their decisions.  

'Give back to Canadians'

For Tanisha Francois Cassel, the U.S. president is also top of mind.

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

She says she's also concerned about the affordability of housing and the cost of post-secondary education.

She says governments should invest more in education to make it cost less. "Give back to Canadians, and we're able to give back to our economy."  

'Economic knowledge and experience'

Asked what matters to her most in the election, Eniber Cabrera says it's "that Canada stays strong as a country, that we're independent and free."

She says the affordability of housing and a healthy economy are also important. 

What does that mean for who she's thinking of supporting? "I would prefer somebody that is strong in economic knowledge and experience, who can get us out of this crisis," Cabrera said. 

'Cost of living'

Cerise Lee says Trump's tariff threats concern her, but it's not the only thing that matters as she considers how to vote.

"Also cost of living, the overall cost of food, and housing for those who need it, those are issues that are worrisome for me," said Lee. 

Lee says she tries to research what policies the leaders are proposing about the issues — "especially the ones that hit home for me'' — before she makes up her mind how to vote.

'Actions more than words' 

Mississauga residents Bassam and Deena Majid say they're concerned about the turmoil caused by the U.S. president and they're looking for politicians who'll do more than just talk. 

"We'd like to see actions more than words," said Bassam. "We hear all kind of good things from everybody but would like to see action."

"I personally find the minute they're elected and they're sitting on the chair, nothing really happens, and that's what's so frustrating," said Deena. 

Both say they feel the need for a change in government and are leaning toward the Conservatives. 

'Stand up to Donald Trump' 

Ziyad Khan, a warehouse worker, believes the best candidate for prime minister is "whoever can stand up to Donald Trump" and best protect Canada from the tariff threats, but says he hasn't decided yet who that is.  

Trump "wants to make Canada the 51st state, he's threatening to annex Canada," said Khan. "We want to show him that we will never be the 51st state, that we will always be an independent country." 

Khan says he "wouldn't have voted for Trudeau" had he stayed on as Liberal leader. "I think he made a lot of controversial decisions and alienated a lot of Canadians," he said.

'Speak for the middle class'

The affordability of basic items such as food and housing are what matters most to Melissa Shin. 

"I need somebody to really speak for the middle-class people," said Shin. 

She says she intends to vote for Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives because the Liberal government "didn't do the work" that needed to be done. 

'Create more jobs'

Zandro Chivinda, a plumber who works in Mississauga, says he wants a government that will "create more jobs, lower interest rates and make life more affordable."  

Chivinda says a lot of people are struggling financially right now. "We don't want to buy luxury stuff, we just want to be able to afford living," he said. 

He also says it's important for politicians to listen to the people and keep their promises. "They always tell us what we want to hear, but they don't give us what we really want," he said.