Riding Profile:

This ethnically diverse riding about one hour northwest of Toronto boasts the largest population of any riding in Ontario. Marked by the highest rate of growth over the past decade, its 133,544 residents are also the second most transient.

With approximately 43 per cent f its population having recently immigrated to Canada, the riding has the greatest share of Punjabi speakers in the province.

Employment in Brampton is concentrated in manufacturing, including automotive and aviation technology and transportation, storage and business services.

As a result of redistribution before the 1999 election, the Brampton West-Mississauga riding was created from 55 per cent of the former Brampton South, 25 per cent of Mississauga North and a sliver of Brampton North.

Political History:

Former premier Bill Davis (1971-85) was first elected to for the Conservatives in the nearby riding of Peel back in 1959.

Davis would also win the former riding of Brampton North in 1975, 1977 and 1981. Liberal Bob Callahan claimed the seat in 1985.

Callahan was re-elected in 1987 to the new riding of Brampton South, and won again in 1990.

Tony Clement reclaimed the seat for the PCs in the1995 election, and was re-elected in 1999.