Certainly the person can have representation, legal counsel or a consultant, to assist in the preparation of their application and to appear with them at any oral hearing that the decision-maker determines is necessary pursuant to the provisions of the legislation. There's nothing that explicitly refers in our legislation to the role of members of Parliament. There's nothing that says they cannot act in the role of counsel. It's a matter of what is the appropriate protocol for a member of Parliament, recognizing perhaps the possibility that his or her presence might be perceived as affecting the decision-maker in a way that's not necessarily consistent with the role of a lawyer or a representative.
On June 1st, 2010. See this statement in context.