Fares Al Soud

Advancing recognition of the need for measures to curtail foreign interference and transnational repression experienced by Palestinians, Arabs, Muslim and Jewish communities in Canada based on their foreign policy views on the Middle East. Reform Canada's arms control regime to be better compliant with the Arms Trade treaty. Advancing initiatives to address anti-Palestinian racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia in a coordinated manner that emphasizes preserving civil liberties and Canadian values. Advocating that Canada impose economic sanctions under Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) on, and withdraw from economic and political treaties with, Israel to compel it to full comply with international law, as described in the ICJ advisory opinions of 2005 & 2024 and the ICJ provisional measures to prevent genocide. Advocating for government studies and actions that promote and enhance the human rights situation and material conditions of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation and within the State of Israel.

Advocating for Canada to end arms transfers to third party states through the US Loophole in EIPA. Reform Canada's arms control regime to be better compliant with the Arms Trade treaty. Vote for Private Member's Bill C-233 An Act to Amend the Export and Import Permits Act. Advocating that Canada impose crippling economic sanctions under SEMA on Israel to compel it to full comply with international law as described in the ICJ advisory opinions of 2005 & 2024 and the provisional measures to end the illegal occupation and prevent genocide. Advocating for Canada to impose an immediate Arms Embargo on Israel using Canada's Special Economic Measures Act and for Canada to suspend the Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership and the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement given Israel's violations of international law in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iran.

Advocating for upholding Canada's commitments to international human rights. Advocating for the protection of freedom of religion in Canada and with respect to the reasonable accommodation of religious observances. Advocating for stronger legislation to address hate crime and online hate. Advocating for policy initiatives related to combating Islamophobia and discrimination; Supporting various programs to protect fundamental freedoms in Canada. Advocating for policies to enhance the security and safety of Canadian Muslim communities and other at-risk communities given the rise in hate crimes; countering supremacist violent extremist groups

Procurement of fur and sealskin garments and accessories for Arctic environments Dedicated financial support to promote and market Canadian fur products Maintaining access to international markets for Canadian fur products Dedicated financial support to promote Canadian seal products and access international markets Access to international markets for Canadian-produced seal products

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada - As it relates to emergency relief and humanitarian programming Women and Gender-Equality (WAGE) - Discussion on the gender-based violence (GBV) grant concerning changes to budget line items, extensions on timelines, and updating WAGE staff on the project as needed. Special Representative on Islamophobia - As it related to any suffering/issues our community is facing Global Affairs Canada: Humanitarian assistance and Development grants, women and security policies and programs, humanitarian access policies as it relates to NGO operations Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, Public Safety, and Justice as it relates to international development, specifically looking at legislation and policies relating to humanitarian access and humanitarian work (For example, Canada's criminal code and sanctions regime) Canada Revenue Agency Rules and Regulations as it pertains to auditing charities

Women and Gender-Equality (WAGE) - Discussion on the gender-based violence (GBV) grant concerning changes to budget line items, extensions on timelines, and updating WAGE staff on the project as needed. Special Representative on Islamophobia - As it related to any suffering/issues our community is facing Global Affairs Canada: Humanitarian assistance and Development grants, women and security policies and programs, humanitarian access policies as it relates to NGO operations Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, Public Safety, and Justice as it relates to international development, specifically looking at legislation and policies relating to humanitarian access and humanitarian work (For example, Canada's criminal code and sanctions regime) Canada Revenue Agency Rules and Regulations as it pertains to auditing charities

Workplace Health & Security Act – ensure cruise ships meet requirements of Health Canada Cruise Ship Inspection Program with regard to compliance. Seeking confirmation from the Government of Canada that crew work permits are not required on vessels involved in international itineraries and home porting in Canadian ports Pilotage Authority Regulations governed under the Canada Marine Act and the Pilotage Act and its authorities – ensure fairness in fee structure Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals – with respect to all proposed amendments, more specifically regarding food waste and waste water. Marine Transportation Security Regulations – with respect to review of all proposed amendments Marine Transportation Security Clearance Program (MTSCP) – regarding security clearance procedures to ensure program and personnel meet cruise ship needs for port activities. Fisheries Act: pertaining to regulations for prevention of pollution from ships and as it relates to pollution prevention in the Canada Shipping Act Canada Oceans Act: pertaining to regulations for prevention of pollution from ships and as it relates to pollution prevention in the Canada Shipping Act Canada Border Services Agency – long range planning policies regarding access of passengers and crews at ports and airports to ensure efficiencies in processing of passengers

Encouraging support for peacebuilding and civic space in Canada. Monitoring Canadian policies relating to environmental justice and encouraging Canada to take concrete steps to rectify past environmental injustices and prevent future environmental harms. Monitoring Canadian restorative justice programming and policies related to Public Safety and the Justice Department and encouraging more Canadian support for restorative justice programming. Monitoring Canadian policies related to grassroots peacebuilding and encouraging more Canadian support for peacebuilding programming especially to address the root causes of forced displacement. Monitoring Canada's international assistance policy and programs as they relate to the countries of focus; overall budget numbers; women, peace and security agenda; and support for small-scale farmers in developing countries. Monitoring Canada's foreign and defence programs and policies as they relate to the signing of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), peacebuilding, and conflict prevention initiatives. Monitoring and encouraging implementation of Canada's Paris Agreement commitments around climate change. MCC advocates around Canada's sanctions policies, as they impact our ability to do our work and impact vulnerable communities. International development initiatives as they relate to Global Affairs Canada's grant proposals program. Immigration and refugee protection policies and regulations relating to the sponsorship and settlement of refugees--in particular, with respect to Canada's Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. Expressing concern around Canada's military response to global conflict, with encouragement for investing instead in diplomacy, more development aid, support for peacebuilding efforts, and humanitarian assistance for displaced peoples. Encouraging strengthened, nation-to-nation relations with Indigenous peoples through the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission final recommendations (i.e. a public inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women, implementing the UNDRIP, etc.). Encouraging more support for peacebuilding initiatives in Palestine Israel. Support for Canadian policies in Palestine and Israel that uphold human rights and promote a just peace for all in the region, including Palestinian refugees. Encouraging continued human rights oversight and accountability for Canadian extractive industries operating outside of Canada.

Advocate greater transparency in Canada’s fisheries Advocate for Canada to sign on to the global Mombasa Declaration Federal support for plastic alternatives and reuse policies. Policies to support a circular economy in Canada. Advocating for harmful chemicals to be eliminated from plastics used in food packaging. Advocating for harmful chemicals to be eliminated from plastics used in food packaging. Funding to co-ordinate refill options at FIFA 2026 Advocating for modernizing the Fisheries Act and policies to be inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, ecosystem-approaches and climate change. Advocate for the implementation of the precautionary approach framework for forage fish stocks. Advocate for the batching of certain stocks under the new rebuilding regulations and implementing rebuilding plans. Improved transparency and traceability in the seafood value chain in Canada to combat seafood fraud (defined as any activity that misrepresents the product that is being purchased) through improved labelling and documentation, traceability verification measures and greater consumer information. Advocating for the public availability of information regarding fish stock targets and limits through annual reports. Advocating for sustainable fisheries decisions. Advocating for regulations on recycled content for certain plastic manufactured items. Advocating for improvement to fisheries and shipping measures that will protect North Atlantic right whales. This includes changes to regulations under the Fisheries Act and Canada Shipping Act. Advocate for the creation of a registry for plastic manufactured items. Advocate for marine protected areas.

Increases to the International Assistance Envelope Allocations of the International Assistance Envelope Advocating spending priorities related to the dissemination of Canada's Official Development Assistance envelope to ensure that aid is targetted at initiatives that serve the world's poorest. Advocating for increased investment toward tuberculosis elimination, specifically through the creation of a national tuberculosis elimination strategy.

Ongoing advocacy, policy and management recommendations for recovery and protection of southern resident killer whales. Regarding development of programs for, and implementation of, Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy. The federal budget, in respect of the Green Budget Coalition's recommendations for prioritized government actions that would promote environmental sustainability Operationalization and Implementation of the MPA Protection Standard to restrict discharges in federally designated protected and conserved areas. Amendment of the Arctic Waters Pollution Act and the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 to better regulate ship source pollution including greywater, black carbon, scrubbers, and sewage. Advocated for an integrated approach to managing and mitigating underwater noise nationally through the release and implementation of Canada’s Ocean Noise Strategy.

To communicate with public office holders and provide advisory services in respect of federal legislation, regulations, and public policy initiatives affecting youth, including but not limited to online harms legislation, artificial intelligence technologies (including chatbots), and other existing or proposed legislative or regulatory measures that may impact young people. Requesting $500,000 over two years to formally integrate youth mental health leadership and lived experience into federal workforce, health, and education strategies, by funding partnerships with Jack.org to support youth co-design, policy consultation, and evaluation initiatives with departments like Health Canada, ESDC, PHAC, and PCH. Jack.org is seeking to work alongside the Government of Canada to advance on youth mental health prevention and promotion initiatives, policies, programs, service delivery and funding streams. Jack.org is seeking to have discussions with the Government of Canada to discuss the current issues impacting youth mental health. Jack.org is advocating to ensure youth are equipped with resources from the Government of Canada to support their mental health and prevent a mental health crisis from occurring. Jack.org is seeking to work alongside the Government of Canada to remove barriers and stigma associated with youth mental health care and support.

To communicate with public office holders and provide advisory service in respect of federal legislation, regulations, and public initiatives affecting youth, including but not limited to online harms legislation, artificial intelligence technologies (including chatbots), and other existing or proposed legislative or regulatory measures that may impact young people Seeking a federal investment of $2.5 million over three years through the Public Health Agency of Canada or the Youth Mental Health Fund to scale Jack.org’s Be There Certificate and edHub, reaching 75,000 youth by 2028 with evidence-informed mental health literacy tools in both digital and school-based formats. Requesting $500,000 over two years to formally integrate youth mental health leadership and lived experience into federal workforce, health, and education strategies, by funding partnerships with Jack.org to support youth co-design, policy consultation, and evaluation initiatives with departments like Health Canada, ESDC, PHAC and PCH. Advocating for the recapitalization of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) and allocation of $3 million over three years to Jack.org to fund 420 paid, peer-led youth mental health leadership positions—delivering mentorship, Jack Talks, and outreach that will reach 200,000 youth across Canada by 2028. Engaging with Canada’s regional development agencies (e.g. ACOA, CanNor, PrairiesCan, FedNor, FedDev Ontario) to explore regionally tailored initiatives that strengthen the youth talent pipeline, support youth mental health and leadership, and contribute to the growth of local businesses by equipping young people with the skills, resilience, and capacity to participate in and lead regional economic development.

To communicate with public office holders and provide advisory services in respect of federal legislation, regulations, and public policy initiatives affecting youth, including but not limited to online harms legislation, artificial intelligence technologies (including chatbots), and other existing or proposed legislative or regulatory measures that may impact young people. Requesting $500,000 over two years to formally integrate youth mental health leadership and lived experience into federal workforce, health, and education strategies, by funding partnerships with Jack.org to support youth co-design, policy consultation, and evaluation initiatives with departments like Health Canada, ESDC, PHAC, and PCH. Seeking a federal investment of $2.5 million over three years through the Public Health Agency of Canada or the Youth Mental Health Fund to scale Jack.org’s Be There Certificate and edHub, reaching 75,000 youth by 2028 with evidence-informed mental health literacy tools in both digital and school-based formats. Engaging with Canada’s regional development agencies (e.g. ACOA, CanNor, PrairiesCan, FedNor, FedDev Ontario) to explore regionally tailored initiatives that strengthen the youth talent pipeline, support youth mental health and leadership, and contribute to the growth of local businesses by equipping young people with the skills, resilience, and capacity to participate in and lead regional economic development. Advocating for the recapitalization of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) and allocation of $3 million over three years to Jack.org to fund 420 paid, peer-led youth mental health leadership positions—delivering mentorship, Jack Talks, and outreach that will reach 200,000 youth across Canada by 2028.

To communicate with public office holders and provide advisory services in respect of federal legislation, regulations, and public policy initiatives affecting youth, including but not limited to online harms legislation, artificial intelligence technologies (including chatbots), and other existing or proposed legislative or regulatory measures that may impact young people. Requesting $500,000 over two years to formally integrate youth mental health leadership and lived experience into federal workforce, health, and education strategies, by funding partnerships with Jack.org to support youth co-design, policy consultation, and evaluation initiatives with departments like Health Canada, ESDC, PHAC, and PCH. Engaging with Canada’s regional development agencies (e.g. ACOA, CanNor, PrairiesCan, FedNor, FedDev Ontario) to explore regionally tailored initiatives that strengthen the youth talent pipeline, support youth mental health and leadership, and contribute to the growth of local businesses by equipping young people with the skills, resilience, and capacity to participate in and lead regional economic development. Seeking a federal investment of $2.5 million over three years through the Public Health Agency of Canada or the Youth Mental Health Fund to scale Jack.org’s Be There Certificate and edHub, reaching 75,000 youth by 2028 with evidence-informed mental health literacy tools in both digital and school-based formats. Advocating for the recapitalization of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) and allocation of $3 million over three years to Jack.org to fund 420 paid, peer-led youth mental health leadership positions—delivering mentorship, Jack Talks, and outreach that will reach 200,000 youth across Canada by 2028.