Citizenship and Immigration committee  The executive director is the seniormost public servant at the board, Simon Coakeley, who is here with me today. The public servants report through to him and he reports to me.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The board members currently report to me.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  They're appointed by cabinet on the recommendation of the minister.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That won't change for the.... Well, it'll be a new refugee appeal division and those persons will be appointed by order in council. The refugee protection division, which is the first level, would change. It would consist of public servants.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  First let me say that the board responded to the audit by the Public Service Commission and indicated it was prepared to comply with all of the recommendations. It is in the course of doing so and provides regular reports to the Public Service Commission. I'm going to ask Simon Coakeley to speak directly to it.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I still will be.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The cost of a person appointed by the Governor in Council is likely to be slightly higher than the cost of an RPD decision-maker in the event that the position is classified at the same level as the current classification for the immigration division members.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I believe the difference is about $25,000, but I'll confirm that.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Sir, are you talking about the current system with the immigration division and the immigration appeal division?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes, I think there are advantages to having a mixed model. I do. And I must say that this is in keeping with the models in other countries, which is to have a first-level public servant decision-maker and then an appeal, which in most cases is to an immigration court. Here, it's a specialized court.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That's a matter of government policy, sir. I really can't comment on that. I can certainly tell you that for the immigration cases I do believe it's an advantage.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. St-Cyr, are you asking about the new refugee protection division?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'd be happy to do that, sir.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I believe so. Yes.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That's right. But you're attributing an intention behind the government's failure to appoint and reappoint members during that period of time, or a sufficient number of members. Certainly some were appointed and reappointed over that period of time.