At Arab Canada News, we work to be a bridge of communication among members of the Arab community, and therefore we support any work that contributes to introducing the community members to each other and highlight it to be inspiring for others..
Today, we meet in this special interview with Mrs. Huda Maqbil, the New Democratic Party candidate for the South Ottawa area in the upcoming Canadian federal elections....

First, we welcome you Huda Maqbil and we ask you to introduce yourself?
Welcome and I am happy to meet you and grateful for this opportunity through which I will share with your readers in South Ottawa my electoral program..
My name is Huda Maqbil, I am the New Democratic Party candidate in the upcoming elections for the South Ottawa area. I am a Canadian of Yemeni-Ethiopian origin, have lived in Canada for more than 30 years. I spent my childhood in Egypt, specifically in the Mohandessin area in Giza, where I studied primary school there, then we moved to Montreal in the province of Quebec and I learned French, then I moved to Ottawa in 1991 and completed my secondary and university studies there, where my family and friends live.
I met my husband, Dr. Ali Al-Badaini, who is Canadian of Egyptian origin in Toronto, and we thought to move our residence to Ottawa because we agreed it was the best place for the family and children, and to be among relatives who live in South Ottawa, also friends and to be among the Arab community.
One of the points that may interest the readers is that South Ottawa is the largest area inhabited by the Arab community in the province of Ontario. The Arab community here is diverse, strong, and vibrant, and I feel lucky to be part of it and I am happy to represent its residents in the upcoming elections.
Tell us about your academic and professional experience, and do you find that this experience will support your work in the field of politics?
I graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor’s degree in Law with honors in 2000, and in the last year I attended a course in national security. When my professor at university knew that I speak four languages alongside my studies and various experiences, he suggested that I look for work in national security agencies, so I indeed applied to work in the intelligence department, and the appointment process required passing many tests, and I passed all these tests and became the first investigator in the Canadian Security Intelligence Service of Muslim and Arab origin.
Through my work I represented Canada abroad in many countries on various missions and traveled to many countries including the UK, and through that I gained a lot of experience in foreign and internal affairs.
The Canadian Intelligence Agency is one of the most important government institutions in the Canadian government because it has a profound impact on decisions made in other federal institutions, such as border security, immigration, foreign affairs, and others. I also gained experience in formulating and implementing policies, and my experience in this field will undoubtedly serve me as a member of parliament.
As a Muslim, I know that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and other national security institutions suffer from bias and that reforms are needed to make the organization more effective and fair. Therefore, I hope to advocate for increased diversity, transparency, and accountability within these institutions, aiming to enhance our collective national security in Canada.
Regarding the New Democratic Party, tell us about the party’s most important policies?
The New Democratic Party (NDP) was historically founded by the labor movement which understands well the nature of the pressures faced by individuals and families in this sector. My experience in government and politics has taught me that the NDP fights for the things that matter to Canadians every day and understands their living needs and supports ordinary workers against the greed of capitalism and big corporations. Growing up, I remembered how we did not have comprehensive health insurance covering medications and dental health and saw my parents’ struggle to cover all these costs.
I also know that many families suffer from the housing crisis and the rising cost of living, in addition to student debts which have increasingly become an obstacle for students to finish their studies and find job opportunities that guarantee them a decent living.
My interest in joining the party grew after attending a conference with the NDP leader Mr. Jagmeet Singh, the dialogue was constructive and through it we discussed with a group of legal experts and lawyers how to change laws to guarantee fair job opportunities for everyone without racism due to race, color, or religion.
He was attracted by the practical and qualitative proposals and solutions I presented at this conference regarding amending laws to establish principles of social justice and equality among society members.
After this meeting, I found that my values and principles aligned with the party, so I decided to run in the upcoming elections scheduled for September or October this year.
We need a government and candidates who deal with these daily challenges seriously and practically, not through hollow statements that may evaporate after the elections, and the residents of South Ottawa know this well and they are eager for change, which I have learned after my multiple meetings with different communities in South Ottawa.
The residents of South Ottawa need candidates who represent them in parliament from the younger generation, who have the ability to be creative and motivate. Also, as a woman with distinguished experiences as a candidate for this position, it places on my shoulders the responsibility of training a new generation of youth who can understand challenges and find solutions for them. The residents of South Ottawa dream of change because they have not seen any significant change in many past years.
As the daughter of an immigrant, what are the toughest challenges you faced and think of working to solve?
I can talk about two challenges. The first was feeling drawn in two directions; I spoke Arabic and Harari languages at home and English and French at school. My parents pushed me to be serious about my studies, especially going to the Arabic school on Saturdays and learning Arabic because they dreamed that I would be successful and committed to my Islamic upbringing, while I just wanted to enjoy like my friends. Finally, I found the balance later at university when I met many young people who had similar experiences. Today, I feel proud and grateful to my parents, teachers, and everyone who contributed to what I have become.
The second challenge I faced was racism.
I am a Canadian Muslim or you could say I am a Western Muslim, and at the beginning of my career with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), some racists felt that I could not work in this institution as a veiled Muslim, but I was able to prove otherwise.
Until today, I continue to challenge racism and call for increased diversity in sensitive and important decision-making institutions such as foreign affairs, the army, border security, and the Ministry of Immigration.
Yes, there are many problems of systemic racism in these institutions, and I seek to change that through speaking at conferences and universities about these issues. And I believe that Canadian Muslims have many talents to offer and are part of this society and are equal to everyone.
As an active and successful Muslim woman in Canadian society, what message would you like to address to the Muslim community in Canada? Do you encourage them to enter the political field?
Yes, I encourage Muslims, especially the youth. I believe that as Arabs and Muslims in Canada, we must serve our country, and we must also participate in all government political sectors.
Also, we cannot participate in government decisions if we are not actively seeking to add our voices in decision-making.
Therefore, it is very important for our community to seek information about political processes in Canada at all levels, whether federal, regional, or municipal.
Canadian Muslims must hold their heads high and be proud of their identity and achievements as teachers, engineers, electricians, healthcare workers, and with all their contributions in all fields over many years. They enrich Canada and in return, they are enriched by its diversity, democracy, love, and compassion in the value system and Canadian culture.
As everyone knows, there are many obstacles facing Muslims in this country, including painful events such as the attack on a mosque in Quebec in 2017, and recently the killing of a peaceful family in London, Ontario, and the series of violence against Black Muslim women in Edmonton, Alberta. All these events remind us of the necessity to fight all forms of hatred and Islamophobia regardless of their source.
Additionally, Law 21 issued in Quebec, which prohibits public sector workers considered in positions of authority from wearing symbols such as the hijab, kippa, turbans, or other religious attire at work, reminds us that systemic racism and religious freedoms should not be taken for granted.
And if we want to fight these practices, we must enter politics, and when I become a member of parliament, I will seek to raise my voice to demand federal action against this law.
 

 I know that many families suffer from the housing crisis and rising living costs, in addition to student debts which have become an obstacle for them to finish their studies and find job opportunities that guarantee them a decent living

What are the most important features and characteristics that a candidate must have to convince the voter?
I believe that Canadian voters are smart and convinced by sound policies that put ordinary and working people at the forefront of political decision-making.
Voters expect their representatives to be responsible leaders, who listen and engage with them actively, and they must also understand and appreciate the difficulties people face and commit to solving problems and making sound decisions.
As a candidate for South Ottawa, what do you promise the residents of this area?
I feel humbled by the trust given to me as a federal candidate for the New Democratic Party in South Ottawa. Therefore, I pledge to be a member of parliament who will listen and fight for what matters to ordinary people, workers, and families.
I will also be an available and representative member for the diverse voices in the community, including providing services in Arabic in my office.
I believe the time has come for change in South Ottawa.
I am confident that as a woman, I will bring the perspective of half the residents of South Ottawa and inspire a new generation of young women to enter the world of politics, where many political decisions affect women just as they do men, and it is important that policies are shaped so that they are fair for everyone.
In conclusion, through Arab Canada News, as a candidate of the New Democratic Party, what message would you like to direct to Canadian society?
I appreciate the role of newspapers that represent ethnic groups such as Arab Canada Newspaper because they provide information, analyze events critically, and place them in the cultural context of the Arab community in this case. I believe that existing newspapers do not represent the diverse Arab community well, and Arabs are only talked about in the media when negative events happen, and many news items are filled with bias and unrealistic stereotypes. It is delightful and hopeful that we have a newspaper like Arab Canada to bring out the true Arab voices and help the Arab community communicate and highlight their achievements. Therefore, a newspaper like Arab Canada helps connect with Canada and helps shape positive development in our community.

The interview was conducted by Editor-in-Chief: Salwa Hammad