Housing People Can Afford
Faster approvals for the missing middle — townhomes, secondary suites and rentals — plus development charges that don't get quietly passed on to young buyers.
Elect
Saima
Hammad
Whitby Town Council
Whitby has been my family's home for over a decade. As a licensed mortgage professional, I have spent years sitting across the table from families trying to afford a home in Durham Region — and I know how much harder it has become.
What I'll bring to the council table:
- Real housing expertise — practical solutions for affordability and smart growth
- Careful, line-by-line scrutiny of every tax dollar Whitby spends
- A council office that answers the phone and shows up in the neighbourhood
About Saima
Saima Hammad is a Whitby resident, mother and licensed Mortgage Agent (Level 2) with Dominion Lending Centres Affinity Mortgage Solutions. Over more than eight years in financial services — including work in credit and collections before moving into mortgage brokering — she has helped hundreds of families across Durham Region navigate the biggest financial decision of their lives.
That work is why she is running. Every week she meets first-time buyers priced out of the town they grew up in, seniors deciding whether they can stay, and small business owners squeezed by costs. Whitby's decisions on housing, development charges and spending land directly on those kitchen tables.
Saima is a community volunteer and small business owner who believes local government should be practical, transparent and genuinely reachable.
Mortgage Agent, Level 2
Dominion Lending Centres Affinity Mortgage Solutions
8+ years
In financial services and lending
Whitby resident
Raising her family here
Small business owner
Federally incorporated since 2022
My Priorities
Spending You Can Check
Plain-language budgets, published contract awards, and a hard look at every tax increase before it reaches your bill.
Infrastructure That Keeps Up
Roads, transit connections and community space planned alongside growth — not five years after the subdivisions open.
Support for Local Business
Cut permit delays and red tape for the small shops, trades and home-based businesses that employ Whitby residents.
Safe, Connected Neighbourhoods
Traffic calming where families have been asking for years, better lighting, and sidewalks that actually connect.
A Council That Answers
Regular neighbourhood office hours, replies within two business days, and clear reasons behind every vote I cast.
Volunteer
Campaigns like this one are won by neighbours talking to neighbours. Whether you have an hour or an afternoon, there's a place for you.
- Knock on doors with our team
- Put a lawn sign on your property
- Make calls from home
- Host a coffee meet-and-greet
How to Vote
01
Check you're on the list
Confirm or add your name to the Whitby voters' list through the Town of Whitby elections page.
02
Know your dates
Advance voting runs in October, with election day on Monday, October 26, 2026.
03
Bring ID
Bring identification showing your name and Whitby address to your voting location.