Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm very happy to present this motion this morning. The motions reads:
That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration study the issue of immigration consultants, that the Committee invite members of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), immigration consultants who work independent of CSIC and individuals who have used the services of immigration consultants.
Mr. Chair, the reason I'm bringing this is that the whole area of immigration consultants has been one of controversy for many years. There were measures taken to establish a professional organization of immigration consultants, a self-governing professional association. That association, CSIC, has been established for a number of years now, and I think it's a good opportunity for the committee to have another look at the situation regarding the practice of immigration consultancy.
We know there are still some controversies and that there is still some reticence among some immigration consultants to be part of the organization. We know there have been some growing pains for that organization and we know there are clients of immigration consultants who have concerns about the service they received and the conduct of the consultants.
I think it would be important for the committee to spend a meeting or two looking at that and seeing what the state of that professional organization is, and of the profession in general, because it affects so many people who are immigrating to Canada or who are hoping to have someone immigrate to Canada.