Citizenship and Immigration committee  Well, it's absolutely critical that this happen: that we select the right people and train them so they're able to discharge their functions competently and in accordance with a code of conduct we have for all our members. That includes our immigration division members. It starts with selecting the right people.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Those are good questions, Ms. Chow, and I'll endeavour to answer them. First of all, it's important to distinguish between the eight-day interview and the hearing. The eight-day interview is for obtaining information from the claimant necessary for the determination of the claim and for sharing information with the claimant about the process.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Well, non-members if they don't charge a fee--

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, you couldn't. You're not allowed to charge a fee.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If you charge a fee, you have to be registered. That's number one. It's not necessary to have a lawyer at the interview. What we intend to do, and of course this will have to be in the development of the rules, is provide the claimant with a disc of the actual interview, so that when he or she obtains a lawyer or counsel--if they do, because many choose to be self-represented--then that counsel would have the benefit of hearing exactly what happened at the interview, as opposed to an officer's notes of what happened.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It's too soon. But once again, it's not an adversarial process. It's a process for obtaining information--

Citizenship and Immigration committee  There's a letter of delegation that is co-signed by me and the chair of the Public Service Commission. When I became chairperson, I received a visit from Ms. Barrados, president of the commission. We subsequently signed a letter in which she delegated the staffing authority to me.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes. I'd be pleased to do so.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  We're going to ensure that the IRB has a high calibre of decision-makers at the first level, as it is important that the first level remain strong. That's what we're renowned for. We're renowned across the world for our high-quality decision-making. That won't change. While the work description for the new RPD member position has yet to be drafted, it is expected that the competencies will be based on those contained in the existing competency profile for GIC members under the current system.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If I may continue...?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Okay. And that's delegated to deputy heads. I have the capacity of a deputy head, so I'm responsible for staffing at the board. I'm accountable for it. I have an executive director--

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I understand. In hiring, the objective will be to have a suitable mix of qualified candidates. The IRB will adhere to the Public Service Employment Act and the Public Service Commission core values of merit and non-partisanship and the guiding values of transparency, access, representativeness, and fairness in the development of its human resources plan.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  You ask a good question and make a very good point. The fact of the matter is.... It has been my experience—and I've been both a public servant and a Governor in Council appointee—that the best model is a model that includes people qualified, people who are selected from all parts, from everywhere, so the answer is that the positions will be open to all Canadians.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Very simply, the Public Service Commission is given the statutory authority--

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes.