At least eight Portuguese Canadians compete for municipal elections in Ontario

Plink minus eight luso-canadians compete for municipal elections on October 26, Ontario, three of which seek re-election in Brampton and London, while another five compete for municipal positions in four municipalities of the province.

“ I am very proud of my Portuguese roots and will continue to support the community in Brampton and throughout Ontario ", said Martin Medeiros, son of Portuguese emigrants, elected regional councilor by the constituencies 3 and 4 of Brampton in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and 2022.

The mayor, who seeks a fourth term, highlights the strengthening of public safety, investments in parks and recreational equipment and the opening of the Toronto Metropolitan University medical school, defending for the next four years the control of municipal taxes, the maintenance of neighborhoods and a greater police presence.

Also in Brampton, Paul Vicente is looking for a third term as regional councilor in constituencies 1 and 5, after being elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, pointing out as results the investments in health, safety and transport, including the development of Peel Memorial Hospital and the expansion of public transport.

“ The Portuguese representation is important because it means having someone at the table who appears, listens and fights for the issues that interest this community ", said Paul Vicente, adding that Brampton maintains the objective of building 113 thousand dwellings by 2031 and of moving forward with the planning of a third hospital.

In London, David Ferreira seeks a second term as a councilor for the 13th constituency, after being elected in 2022 by a difference of only 34 votes, with 1,885 votes against 1,851 from the previous holder, John Fyfe-Millar.

“ We can support growth while protecting our neighborhoods,” said David Ferreira, a native of London and a graduate of Western University, who puts housing, tenant protection, public transport, road safety and the revitalization of the city centre among the priorities.

In Kitchener, Matthew Rodrigues, the son of a Madeiran emigrant, seeks to conquer directly in the polls one of the four places in the city at the Waterloo Regional Council, after being appointed in March 2025 to replace Rob Deutschmann, after being fifth in the 2022 elections.

“The Waterloo Region needs more homes that people can actually afford,” said Matthew Rodrigues, defending investments in affordable housing, public transport, safety in school areas and expansion of the light rail system.

In Mississauga, two Portuguese-Canadians compete for the same place as municipal and regional councilor for the constituency 7: Lucas Alves, elected in 2022 to the Peel District School Board and chosen vice president of that body in November 2025, and George Tavares, who ran for mayor in 2022 and 2024.

George Tavares presented a new candidacy for the presidency of the House of Mississauga in 2026, but withdrew it in June, advancing later to the constituency 7.

In Toronto, Marco Martins runs for councilman for the 9 – Davenport constituency, competing against the current holder, Alejandra Bravo, and candidates Ashley Jansen and Neil Simon, with proposals focused on security, housing, transport, cost of living and support for small trade.

In Cambridge, Tony Chaves, 70 years old and former president of the Portuguese Club of Cambridge for 11 years, runs for mayor, defending greater participation of residents in municipal decisions and measures related to property taxes, traffic, roads, homeless and support for the elderly.

Ontario’s municipal elections take place every four years, with voters choosing mayors, councillors and school council representatives, in a vote marked by housing, public safety, municipal taxes and urban growth concerns.