2026 Mississauga Election Candidate Profile: Ward 7 - Naila Saeed

With the upcoming 2026 Municipal elections happening on Monday, October 26th, Modern Mississauga Media has reached out to all candidates inviting them to answer the same questions so voters can familiarize themselves with them.

With the 2022 Mississauga election having a paltry 21.84% voter turnout, this series is to educate the community and hopefully increase voter turnout for 2026.
Low voter turnout means that the voices of a few make decisions for all.

Candidate’s were also asked to provide at least four images and their answers are unedited.

Click here to read all candidate profiles and check back often as responses will be posted within 72 hours of receipt.

Click here to learn how to vote in the 2026 Mississauga Election.

1. Why are you running for Ward 7 Councillor?
I am running because I believe Ward 7 needs a councillor who is present, accessible, and focused on getting things done.

For more than 28 years, I have been building businesses, creating jobs, and serving families and communities in Mississauga and across Ontario. I have seen firsthand what residents face — rising costs, traffic, housing pressures, concerns about safety, and the need for stronger support for seniors, youth, families, and local businesses.

I am not running simply to hold a position. I am running to serve. My approach is simple: listen, document, solve, and follow up.

2. What makes you stand out over other candidates?
My experience is practical and community-based. I am an educator, entrepreneur, and community leader with a Master’s in Public Administration, and I have spent years bringing people together and turning ideas into action.

I understand both sides — the challenges residents face and the realities of running organizations, creating jobs, and navigating government systems.

Most importantly, I am a doer. I don’t want to make promises and disappear after the election. I want residents to be able to reach their councillor, know what is being done about their concerns, and receive follow-up.

3. What are your key campaign priorities?
My priorities are:

• Safer neighbourhoods — better coordination on community safety, by-law enforcement, and neighbourhood concerns.

• Better traffic and transportation — practical solutions for congestion, road safety, transit, and the impacts of major projects such as the Hurontario LRT.

• Responsible property taxes and better value for taxpayers — every dollar must deliver value.

• Strong local businesses and economic development — making it easier for small businesses to open, grow, and succeed. Cut red tape and reduce waste.

• Support for seniors, youth, and families — ensuring people of all ages can participate fully in community life.

• Vision Zero — safer streets for everyone, including clear rules around e-bikes.

4. What budget item is the most important for Mississauga?
For me, the most important principle is getting maximum value from every taxpayer dollar.

Mississauga has to maintain the infrastructure and services residents depend on while being disciplined about spending. The 2026 budget focuses on areas such as transit, road maintenance, safety, infrastructure, and cost containment.

I would prioritize spending that directly affects residents’ everyday lives: safe roads and sidewalks, reliable transit, neighbourhood safety, parks and recreation, infrastructure maintenance, and efficient city services.

I also believe residents deserve transparency — not just about how much we spend, but what results we are getting for that money.

5. What are your three favourite aspects of Mississauga?
First, our people. Mississauga is one of Canada’s most diverse and welcoming communities. People from different backgrounds have built their lives here and contributed to our city.

Second, our potential. We have an incredible location, a strong business community, excellent infrastructure, and a growing population. We can become an even stronger economic and cultural hub.

Third, our quality of life. Our parks, trails, libraries, recreation facilities, neighbourhoods, and access to Lake Ontario make Mississauga a wonderful place to live.

I want to protect what makes Mississauga special while making sure Ward 7 benefits from its future growth.

6. How will you be actively supporting locally owned businesses if elected?
I believe small businesses are the backbone of our local economy and our neighbourhoods.

As councillor, I would work to make the City easier for local businesses to deal with — particularly around permits, approvals, by-laws, and navigating municipal services.

I would also support initiatives that bring more customers into local commercial areas, promote local businesses, and strengthen neighbourhood main streets.

My goal would be to create a business-friendly Ward 7 where entrepreneurs feel supported rather than overwhelmed by government processes.

7. What does Mississauga currently excel at?
Mississauga excels at diversity, economic strength, infrastructure, and community building.

We have built a city that attracts people, businesses, and investment from around the world. The City reported 65 new investments in 2025, representing approximately 5,100 new jobs and $2.2 billion in capital investment.

But excellence is not about becoming complacent. We need to make sure Ward 7 residents and local businesses benefit from that growth and that our city continues to improve its everyday services.

8. How would you communicate with residents and what communication standards would you set?
I would make accessibility and responsiveness a priority.

Residents should have multiple ways to communicate with their councillor — in person, by phone, email, community meetings, and online.

My standard would be simple: Acknowledge. Respond. Act. Follow up.

Even when an issue cannot be solved immediately, residents deserve to know that their concern has been heard, what can be done, who is responsible, and what the next step is.

I would also provide regular Ward 7 updates so residents know what their councillor is working on and what progress is being made.

9. How do you plan to actively involve and include residents in decisions?
I want Ward 7 residents to be participants, not just spectators.

I would hold regular monthly community meetings and smaller neighbourhood conversations, including sessions focused on seniors, youth, families, tenants, homeowners, and local businesses.

For major Ward 7 decisions, I would seek resident input before decisions are finalized, not after.

I would also use surveys, community consultations, and accessible in-person opportunities so that residents who are not active online are not left out.

Mississauga already uses open houses, workshops, surveys, and other engagement methods to gather public input. I would bring that same spirit of engagement directly into Ward 7.

My commitment is that residents will have a voice, their concerns will be documented, and they will hear back about what happened.

10. Please provide your campaign website.
Nailasaeed.ca