Thank you very much, Mr. Chairperson.
To all members of the committee, I wish to thank you for the opportunity you've extended to me to appear before this committee to comment on the IRB board member appointment process. I'm honoured to appear here.
Although my comments are personal reflections, I'm sure they represent the position of the majority of the members of AQAADI, the Quebec Immigration Lawyers Association.
The Quebec Immigration Lawyers Association is a group of immigration practitioners concentrated or centred in Quebec. We number some 100 to 120 individuals, depending upon the time of the month, the year, and the volume of work that has to be done—allowing people who wish to specialize in this area. Obviously we are involved in federal legislation as well as provincial legislation by virtue of the immigration work we do.
I've had the opportunity to review the letter that was submitted by the Canadian Bar Association--the excellent submissions that were set forth in the letter to the committee—