Child care worker and entrepreneur Naila Saeed has been nominated as the NDP candidate for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill.
Saaed is the founder and chief executive officer of EYES Canada Child Care, a child-care franchise with more than 20 locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area and beyond, as far afield as London and Niagara.
Saaed immigrated to Canada from India more than 25 years ago, initially offering tutoring services before setting up her own in-home daycare, and then expanding and setting up her own business.
“I strongly believe in serving my community, my area, and making a meaningful impact here,” she said in an interview with AuroraToday. “Having been actively involved in social work and different organizations locally, working for them, I have first-hand experience of knowing the challenges that people face in the area, whether it's affordability, access to health care, education or jobs. My passion for public services and my commitment to bring real change is what motivated me to step forward.”
As well as her own child-care business, the Aurora resident has sat on a Canada-wide child-care advisory board.
“That's why I know the challenges the schools are facing, the funding cuts, they cannot maintain the repairs and construction,” she said. “The classrooms are overcrowded. “There is not enough support for educators, and how they are having problems with the funding.”
Saeed said she would also call for more support for accessibility funding in schools.
“It's heartbreaking when parents come and tell us that they're having such a challenge, they're getting the funding for their special needs kids, and we are inclusive of all, we all always stand with inclusivity,” she added.
Saeed will be running against Richmond Hill-based lawyer Jason Cherniak, representing the Ontario Liberals, and incumbent Michael Parsa, representing the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. No Green Party candidate has been confirmed as of writing.
Parsa was first elected in the riding in the 2018 general election, winning 56 per cent of the vote.
In the 2022 election, Parsa won re-election, winning 53 per cent of the vote.
Election day is set for Feb. 27.
More information about all the candidates running in the election can be found on AuroraToday’s 2025 Ontario Votes page.