Brampton, ON – February 23, 2025_With Ontario’s provincial election just days away on February 27, Brampton East is emerging as a key battleground, where economic anxieties and local rivalries are shaping the race. Incumbent Progressive Conservative (PC) MPP Hardeep Grewal is seeking re-election against independent challenger Azad Singh Goyat, a landlord advocate with a history of political bids. The backdrop? U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, an issue that looms large in Brampton’s manufacturing-heavy economy.
Grewal’s Pitch: PC Stability Amid Economic Turmoil
First elected in 2022 with 43.1% of the vote (13,307 votes), Grewal unseated former NDP MPP Gurratan Singh, benefiting from a strong PC wave in Brampton’s five ridings. A close ally of Premier Doug Ford, Grewal has served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Gaming and has aligned himself with Ford’s infrastructure-driven economic policies.
His campaign highlights major provincial investments, including Highway 413, which is projected to create 3,500 jobs annually, and increased healthcare funding. Grewal has also championed Ford’s defiant stance on Trump’s tariffs, vowing to protect local jobs.
“We’ll fight for every job,” Grewal told supporters at a recent rally, echoing Ford’s threats of potential energy export cuts in response to Trump’s policies.With Brampton East home to thousands of auto-sector workers, Grewal is positioning himself as the steady hand in a time of economic uncertainty.
Goyat’s Challenge: A Landlord Advocate in a Blue-Collar Riding
Goyat, a director of the Brampton Homeowners Property Association (BHPA), has built his campaign around opposition to Brampton’s Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) program, a 2024 pilot aimed at enforcing safety standards in rental properties. The program has been a flashpoint between landlords and the city. Goyat has argued before City Council and on social media platforms that he doesn’t believe landlords need to meet fire code and building code.
Goyat argues the policy unfairly penalizes property owners without proving it enhances tenant safety. However, critics—including city officials—have labeled him a defender of slum landlords, accusing his association of protecting negligent property owners.
His most high-profile political moment came in 2024 when he filed a complaint against Councillor Gurpartap Singh Toor over an unregistered rental unit, resulting in a $500 fine for the councillor. That incident fueled a bitter feud between the two, with Toor—a rising political star—calling Goyat a “self-serving landlord lobbyist.”
Goyat previously ran for Regional Councillor in Wards 9 & 10 in the 2022 municipal election, finishing with 1,008 votes (4.87%) in a crowded field:
Gurpartap Singh Toor – 6,086 votes (29.39%) – Winner Gurpreet Singh Dhillon (Incumbent) – 5,859 votes (28.29%)
Susan Joseph – 3,200 votes (15.45%)
Gagan Lal – 2,498 votes (12.06%)
Mohammad Shoaib – 1,603 votes (7.74%)
Azad Singh Goyat – 1,008 votes (4.87%)
Aneep Dhade – 454 votes (2.19%)
Total Votes Cast: 20,708
Despite narrowly missing a municipal council seat, Goyat is now setting his sights on Queen’s Park. His campaign remains laser-focused on landlord rights, but his silence on Trump’s tariffs is a glaring omission in a riding where trade policy can impact thousands of jobs.
“Landlords need a voice,” he told supporters at a recent campaign event, doubling down on his anti-RRL stance while sidestepping economic concerns.
Tariffs: The Election’s X-Factor
Trump’s proposed tariffs, announced in January 2025, pose a direct threat to Ontario’s $200-billion export market, with Brampton’s auto parts suppliers and logistics companies particularly vulnerable.
Ford’s aggressive pushback against Washington has bolstered PC candidates like Grewal, while Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie has focused her campaign on affordability issues, backing Liberal hopeful Vicky Dhillon elsewhere in Brampton.
So far, Goyat has not addressed the tariff issue, a notable omission given Brampton East’s reliance on cross-border trade.
Who Else Is in the Race?
While Grewal and Goyat dominate the conversation, other candidates could play spoiler:NDP Candidate: Martin Singh – A pharmacist with previous federal runs in Brampton East, Singh has pitched tariff-resilient job strategies as a counter to the economic uncertainty. Liberal Candidate: Vicky Dhillon – A former city councillor, Dhillon is expected to campaign on healthcare and affordability, key planks of Crombie’s provincial platform. Green Party Candidate: Unannounced*Election Outlook: Grewal in the Driver’s Seat*With just six days to go, Grewal remains the favorite, benefiting from incumbency, a strong PC ground game, and Ford’s high-profile tariff fight.Goyat, while well-known in landlord circles, faces an uphill battle. His 2022 municipal result (4.87%) pales in comparison to Grewal’s 43.1% in the last provincial election, and his avoidance of key economic issues could limit his broader appeal.Brampton East is now a referendum on the RRL program. Unless Goyat pivots to address trade concerns—or Singh and Dhillon successfully split the opposition—Grewal is in a strong position to retain Brampton East.With tariffs on the table and voter sentiment shifting, Brampton East’s decision next week could offer a preview of Ontario’s political landscape in 2025.