Today, residents of Mississauga, Ontario, will be heading to the polls to choose their next mayor.

Sixteen candidates are competing for the position, which was vacated by Bonnie Crombie in January following her appointment as leader of the provincial Liberals.

Initially seen as the frontrunner, former federal Member of Parliament Carolyn Parrish’s decision to abstain from candidate debates has allowed other contenders to gain momentum.

Among them are former Ontario Liberal MPP Dipika Damerla, who served on Mississauga City Council alongside fellow mayoral hopefuls Alvin Tedjo and Stephen Dasko.

Housing affordability emerges as a key concern for voters in the midst of Mississauga’s growth, now the third-largest city in Ontario and seventh-largest in Canada.

Polling stations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.