Charles Sousa was elected to serve as Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Lakeshore in December 2022. He currently serves as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement. Charles grew up in Mississauga and is a proud first generation Portuguese-Canadian. His parents helped shape his views public service by instilling in him that there’s room for everyone to succeed, to learn, and to help each other. Charles earned his MBA from Ivey School of Business at University of Western Ontario, BBA (Honours) from Wilfrid Laurier University, and graduated from the Institute of Corporate Directors at Rotman School of Business.

Prior to entering public service Charles enjoyed a 20 year in commercial banking and capital markets. An active member of his community, he was the chair of the Rainbow Ball and an ambassador for the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation. He was the president of the Federation of Portuguese Canadian Business and Professionals from 1998 to 2006, and director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada. Charles was also a member of both the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and the Toronto Board of Trade.

Charles was previously the Member of Provincial Parliament for the former riding of Mississauga South from 2007 to 2018. During that time, he served as Ontario’s Minister of Finance, President of Treasury Board, Minister of Citizenship & Immigration, Minister responsible for the Pan/ParaPan Am Games and Minister of Labour. Throughout his career, Charles has been a champion for Mississauga. He advocated and pushed for the revitalization of Mississauga’s waterfront and the protection of its sensitive airshed. Charles commitment to community service earned him the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He was also inducted as a Commander of the Order of Merit in Portugal.

He recently sat on Canadian University Dubai's board of trustees and was the chair of Magellan Community Charities. Charles, his wife Zenny, and their three children continue to call Mississauga home.