Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I wish to welcome the witnesses.
My first question is for Mr. Qayyum, from the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants.
I was surprised to hear that you had congratulated the minister for having presented this bill, the aim of which is to reduce the backlog by simply eliminating applications at the minister's whim, rather than increasing the department's efficiency in order for it to process a greater number of applications.
Given that you yourself represent the consultants, it seems to me that this is counter to the very interests of your own members. You seem to be rather in favour of eliminating applications, perhaps because there are too many of them and that it would make things simpler for you.
Would you have a comment to make in this regard? Do you not believe that filling the 50 vacant commissioner positions the department presently has would accelerate the processing of applications and give a broader mandate to your members?