We really would like to have the statistics. In my work, I represent workers before the board of referees and before the umpire. I also prepare dockets for the Federal Court of Appeal. However, we also have a political component. We're calling for improvements. That would enable us to show that what we're advancing is true. Ultimately, we would have support.
In our region, we don't have this problem of representation by two members of a board of referees. However, it is true that a situation can arise in which there are only two persons. Earlier I cited the example of a chairperson and an employer representative who are often there. If those two individuals are still together, the third always dissents. We know we always lose when those two are there. We know we'll then have to go before another body, in that case the umpire.
It's true that preparation requires time on the claimant's part. I was surprised earlier to hear that there were people who had 10 or 15 days. I never have more than seven days before the hearing. When I receive the notice and the docket, I have seven days to meet the claimant. If he's found a job, we forget that. We find it hard to meet. I work day and night.
I can tell you about 14-month waiting times. I'll briefly give you an example that I had to deal with. It was the case of a forest worker. We had appeared four times before the board of referees, four times before the umpire and once before the Federal Court of Appeal, and, in spite of everything, the commission will be appealing again. That person has to pay.