Citizenship and Immigration Committee on March 20th, 2018

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

On average, when you look at the vacancy rates, when this was last presented to us, there were about 26 vacancies in Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. If you look at the Vancouver vacancy rates, it's around 200 days; in Toronto, the low is at 55 and the high is, in fact, 687 days. On average, it clusters around 250 to 300 days. In Montreal, again, the low is 133 and the high is 300. These are long times in waiting.

One of the issues that Mr. Aterman just raised, in terms of the IRB appointments, is related to money, because they don't have the resources to fill these positions. Has that been part of the problem with delaying the appointments?

[Donnalyn McClymont]

To be honest, from where I sit, we really take our direction from the IRB in terms of what their needs are and what they are resourced to fill. We would really be totally dependent on them giving us advice in terms of what they need and how quickly we can help them fill those positions.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

In terms of applicants who submitted their applications, maybe not through this round but in previous rounds, are there individuals who are qualified and for whom recommendations have been made but who have not been selected to fill the position or the GIC appointment has not been made?

[Donnalyn McClymont]

I wouldn't really be able to divulge that, because it would be considered advice to the minister from the selection committee.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Currently, how many individuals, if any, are outstanding in terms of being submitted to the government for recommendation for the appointments? Are there any for the IRB?

[Donnalyn McClymont]

Again, unfortunately I wouldn't be able to give that detail of information because it would be considered advice to ministers.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

All right.

On the question around reappointment, then, do you take into consideration complaint issues related to the performance of a board member in the reappointment? Or is that completely out of your hands as well?

[Donnalyn McClymont]

I would say that every single incumbent would have to reapply for their position and would have to go through the whole process.

As I mentioned, for the organization, the IRB in this case, my experience to date has been that the chair sits on the selection committee with us, and we would expect them to give their perspectives and their feedback. As Mr. Aterman mentioned to your colleague, they do a rigorous performance assessment. Our expectation would certainly be that the IRB would bring that to the table in the context of making a determination of which candidates we would recommend to the minister.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

It is the chair, then, who sits at this table with you. It is the chair who determines whether or not a complaint would proceed, whether or not the findings of the complaints will be taken, and what action will be followed through with. Also, it is the chair who will also provide significant input into a reappointment of an individual. Do I have a good understanding of all of this?

[Donnalyn McClymont]

I think that's fair. I think the only point I would add is that it's really up to the organization who they want to have sit in on the selection committee. To date, our experience has been that it's the chair, but we really work with the Prime Minister's Office, the minister's office, often the portfolio lead department, and the organization to determine who will sit on the selection committee. To date, it has been the chair, but it's not set in stone, I would say.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Has there ever been a time when it's not the chair?

[Donnalyn McClymont]

Not, in my understanding, with the IRB, but certainly with other organizations we do—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm sorry. I'm just interested in the IRB because this is what we're dealing with. Thank you.

With respect to appointments, then, to come back to the appointments, how long will it take after the deadline is completed on June 29 for you to go through the process of making that selection and then going into a recommendation mode to say “these are the individuals who we think should be filling these positions”?

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Very briefly.

[Donnalyn McClymont]

I don't want to give you a set period of time because we do it as quickly as we can with the resources we have with our colleagues at the IRB. I would say very quickly for you that I would focus on the assessment, because I think that's quite important in making sure that we have very solid candidates. We would do a review of—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm sorry, but can you quickly give us a time frame?

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I'm afraid I can't....

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

That's what I'm looking for.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Mr. Sarai, you have seven minutes. You will be the last questioner.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will give my time to Leona Alleslev.

[Leona Alleslev, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you very much.

If the chair doesn't sit on the review committee, do you still get all of the performance evaluations if you are looking to reappoint someone who has already been there?

[Donnalyn McClymont]

Our expectation, Mr. Chair, would certainly be that the IRB was there to represent the perspectives of the organization. That would be the expectation: that they would bring that information to the table.

[Leona Alleslev, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

But it's not a requirement.

[Donnalyn McClymont]

It's not set in any kind of requirement, but it is certainly the expectation that we would have that—

[Leona Alleslev, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

So it is possible to have a reappointment without reviewing past performance.