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About FAIR Canada

Advancing the
rights of individual investors in Canada.

Who We Are

Founded in 2008, FAIR Canada (the Canadian Foundation for the Advancement of Investor Rights) is dedicated to advocating for investors—particularly retail investors—and promoting evidence-based regulation in Canada’s capital markets. Our mission is to ensure fair treatment, deliver equitable outcomes, and drive reforms that protect investor rights.

Since we began, FAIR Canada has become a trusted voice in financial policy. We provide clear, informed advice to regulators and governments, conduct research focused on investors, and publish practical guides to help people navigate the system.  We also push for stronger protections against fraud, abuse, and unfair practices.

Because we are independent from industry, regulators, and government, we have the credibility to speak openly and advocate for policies that put investors first.

How does FAIR Canada help investors?
FAIR Canada advances investor rights and protections by:

  • Engaging directly with regulators, policymakers, and stakeholders
  • Submitting constructive and insightful recommendations on regulatory proposals
  • Raising public awareness of critical investor issues

Our goal is to empower investors to understand their rights and navigate the investing landscape with confidence. We simplify complex regulatory processes through clear, accessible information and practical resources—helping investors stay informed and protected.

What activities are not part of FAIR Canada’s mandate?
We do not provide legal or investment advice, represent individuals in legal or regulatory proceedings, or engage in partisan political activities. Occasionally, we may file a “friend of court” brief with an appellant court when we have a strong interest in the legal matter to be decided.

What is FAIR Canada’s role in educating investors?
Our educational efforts focus on informing the public, governments, and regulators about the investor perspective. We publish investor-focused research and helpful guides and participate in conferences to strengthen awareness of investor rights – complementing, not duplicating, existing financial literacy initiatives.

Are we incorporated?
FAIR Canada was incorporated on February 7, 2008, to act as a voice for Canadian investors. We were registered as a charitable organization under the Income Tax Act on May 13, 2013, to advance education on capital markets and investment practices. On January 17, 2014, FAIR Canada was continued under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (Canada).

How are we funded?
We are a non-profit, charitable organization funded entirely by donations. Interested in supporting our mission? Please make a tax-deductible contribution.
Donate Now >

Does FAIR Canada work with other investor and consumer rights organizations?
Yes. We actively collaborate with consumer rights groups nationwide to champion fair treatment and transparency. By joining forces, we amplify our collective voice and shine a spotlight on protecting Canadians who invest their hard-earned savings.

Our Mission

FAIR Canada champions the rights of individual investors in Canada through advocacy, education and regulatory advancements.

Our Vision

To advance the rights and protections of individual investors in Canada.

To promote fair treatment of individual investors in Canadian capital markets.

To be the trusted, independent voice on significant issues that impact individual investors.

To provide informed, objective comment on regulatory issues that impact investor fairness and protection.

Our Values

Independent

We are Canada’s only national, non-profit, investor-focused organization, independent of any government or regulator.

Collaborative

We work collaboratively with investor groups, securities regulators, investment industry organizations, and other sector stakeholders to promote fairness and the interests of individual investors.

Informed

We advocate for investor fairness in an articulate and balanced way, based on research and knowledge of securities law and regulations.

Respectful

We are respectful in all our interactions and seek to provide constructive policy solutions.

Strategic Plan

The Board of Directors approved a five-year strategic plan outlining our goals and charting an ambitious path forward for FAIR Canada.

Fair Canada 2023-2028 Strategic Plan

2023-2028 Strategic Plan

Read our plan

Annual Report

Our Annual Reports showcase progress, priorities, and impact—covering advocacy, research, milestones, and audited financial statements. Explore them to see how we advance resilient, investor-focused capital markets.

2025 Annual Report Cover

2024-2025 Annual Report

Download PDF

FAIR Canada Team

Jean-Paul Bureaud

Executive Director

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Jean-Paul Bureaud

Executive Director

Jean-Paul is the Executive Director, President and CEO of FAIR Canada. Prior to joining FAIR Canada in 2020, he was a financial sector expert at the World Bank Group assisting countries to enhance their securities regulatory regimes. He is a former member of the Executive Management Team at the Ontario Securities Commission, where he worked for 20 years in senior leadership and policy roles. He began his legal career at a national law firm advising clients on securities law matters.

Bruce McPherson

Policy Counsel

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Bruce McPherson

Policy Counsel

Prior to joining FAIR Canada, Bruce worked in-house as a lawyer at a Toronto Stock Exchange-listed reporting issuer headquartered in Edmonton. In this role, Bruce’s main responsibilities included corporate finance transactions, public disclosure, public company and subsidiary governance, and corporate reorganizations. During part of his tenure at the organization, he also served as Assistant Corporate Secretary. Bruce began his career at a private firm in Edmonton, where he worked on a variety of corporate and commercial matters. He is a member of the Law Society of Alberta.

Pira Kumarasamy

Director of Communications

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Pira Kumarasamy

Director of Communications

Pira Kumarasamy brings a wealth of experience in communications, media relations, and strategic social media planning. With a strong background in agency work and consulting, she has led impactful communications projects across various industries. Before joining FAIR Canada, Pira served as Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs at The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (now called Securities and Investment Management Association). She has also freelanced as a writer and consultant for fintech and personal finance publications.

Naftalia Allison

Communications Specialist

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Naftalia Allison

Communications Specialist

Naftalia Allison brings experience in advocacy communications, impact consulting, and digital media strategy. With a background that bridges journalism and public administration, she has developed expertise in crafting clear, accessible messaging on complex policy and social issues. Before joining FAIR Canada, Naftalia supported national awareness and advocacy initiatives at Fairtrade Canada, where she helped shape bilingual campaigns and digital engagement strategies.

Board of Directors

Our volunteer Board of Directors provides strategic oversight and stewardship of our mission. The Board is responsible for:

  • Setting organizational direction and approving strategic priorities
  • Ensuring financial integrity and risk management
  • Monitoring performance and evaluating the Chief Executive Officer
  • Upholding our values and ethical standards

The Board reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and brings expertise from various sectors to guide our work.

Interested in joining our Board? Submit your resume to officeadmin@faircanada.ca.

Preet Banerjee

Chair, Toronto

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Preet Banerjee

Chair, Toronto

Preet is a former investment advisor, well known across Canada for his insightful commentaries on personal finance and practice standards within the investment business. He is the founder of MoneyGaps, a hybrid-advice platform for Canadian financial advisors, and a consultant to the wealth management industry.

Deborah Leckman

Toronto

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Deborah Leckman

Toronto

Deborah is a member of the Board of Trustees of OPTrust, serves as an advisor to the Investor Protection Clinic at Osgoode Hall Law School, and is a former Commissioner to the Ontario Securities Commission. A CFA Charterholder, Deborah is a senior investment professional with more than 30 years of experience in the retail wealth and pension fund industries, and has held executive roles in the private and public sectors.

Ronald E. Smith

Nova Scotia

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Ronald E. Smith

Nova Scotia

Ron is a Chartered Professional Accountant and former business executive with more than 30 years of experience in business and accounting. Previously, he worked as Chief Financial Officer for two publicly traded companies. Throughout his career, he served on boards and audit committees of eight Canadian public companies, as well as numerous not-for-profit organizations and private companies. Currently, Ron serves on the boards of the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments and two companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Soheil Karkhanechi

Toronto

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Soheil Karkhanechi

Toronto

Soheil is an investor, entrepreneur, and lawyer with more than two decades of experience in the investment industry. Currently, he is the managing lawyer at SMK Law, a law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of individual investors. Previously, he co-founded a financial technology firm focused on reducing the cost of financial services. Soheil has also held senior executive roles at leading investment firms in the U.S. and Canada, covering both public and private markets.

Jean Lorrain

Quebec

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Jean Lorrain

Quebec

Jean Lorrain is a Montreal-based consultant. He became chair of the Toronto Centre’s Securities Advisory Board in 2020. Previously, he held various leadership positions at the Québec Autorité des marchés financiers and participated in numerous Canadian and international capital market-related committees for more than 32 years. In addition, he has lectured on business and corporate law and currently teaches global securities regulation at the University of Montreal.

Brigitte Catellier

Toronto

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Brigitte Catellier

Toronto

Brigitte is a lawyer with 25 years of executive experience in regulated industries, including financial services. She serves as the Associate Director of the Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic and is a member of the CSA Investor Advisory Panel. Brigitte also teaches in Osgoode’s Financial Law LLM program, offering courses on the Regulation of Financial Institutions and Compliance in the Financial Services Sector.

Brett Millard

British Columbia

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Brett Millard

British Columbia

Brett is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) with 20 years of financial service & investment industry experience. He is currently working as part of the Executive Leadership Team at FP Canada responsible for the development and implementation of organizational strategies around strategic business growth and revenue diversification among other areas including their fintech work and leading the stakeholder service teams.  A lifelong advocate of consumer protection and enhancing financial literacy among Canadians, Brett has spent many years speaking on and writing about a wide range of financial planning and advice topics.

Pat Dunwoody

Toronto

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Pat Dunwoody

Toronto

Pat is a client-focused executive with over 35 years of experience leading and helping organizations and industry-level committees improve efficiencies and customer service. Previously the Executive Director of the Canadian ETF Association, she is now the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Strategicly Minded Inc., where she works with organizations across Canada to strengthen leadership, productivity, and engagement. Pat is a Board member of Prosper Canada and Elder Abuse Prevention of Ontario.

Career Opportunities

As a non-profit, independent organization, FAIR Canada takes pride in advocating for investors. When you join our team, you help foster positive change in Canada’s financial markets. You’ll collaborate with passionate professionals who value fairness, transparency, and accountability.

We provide an inclusive and collaborative work environment, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to promote positive change for investors.

If you are interested in working with FAIR Canada, please send an email to officeadmin@faircanada.ca with the subject line “Job interest”.

Job Postings

Join the Fight: Donate Now

FAIR Canada works to advance the rights and protections of Canadian investors. We are Canada’s only national, non-profit, investor-focused organization, independent of any government or regulator. Help us continue to advocate on your behalf. Donate Now

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