Mr. Dhillon.
Evidence of meeting #53 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was iccrc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #53 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was iccrc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Okay.
For the ghost consultants, you're saying that they are at another level in doing this under the table with cash exchanges, right?
Do you know who these people are?
Chair, Canadian Migration Institute
I actually don't. Even my clients don't know their names. The second story I had, I asked the client for the name, because you have to make a complaint to CBSA if you know the name. The client doesn't know the name. They are operating in Vancouver. In Canada it's illegal to do that, but there are so many people doing it right now.
As an Individual
Most of these ghost consultants are operating outside of Canada. Perhaps if they did a bounty program, even a small bounty in Canadian dollars might net these individuals and their names in these countries.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Would it help if the government undertook the work to inform applicants, clients, of the requirements of the agent who is supposed to be representing them. If you're doing this under the table, that is illegal. These are the credentials that a person must have in order to represent you. If they don't, you're not being properly represented and your application would not be accepted. I shouldn't say that, because their applications should be accepted. But somehow we have to find a way to get at the people who are defrauding the system, cheating the clients in the application process.
Chair, Canadian Migration Institute
Remember, though, it needs to be translated into the client's language. The reason is that a lot of clients, if they are from a different language, are just going to sign the form. In the English form, they don't even know what the form is talking about. It needs to be translated and certified that it's their signature.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Okay.
In terms of requirements on that licensing requirement, do you have any suggestions on what government should put forward as a requirement for folks to be a licensed consultant?
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
If you can't provide that information in 10 seconds, maybe you can submit it to the committee.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here today.
I have some specific questions. First off, are all three of you witnesses members who are in good standing with the ICCRC? Correct?
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
How long have you...?
You're not a practitioner?
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Okay, thank you.
For both of you, the licence with ICCRC allows you to do hearings with the IRB, the Immigration and Refugee Board, correct?
Liberal
Chair, Canadian Migration Institute
I got a really high score in my practitioner program at UBC, but I've never done any hearings.
As an Individual
I handled temporary foreign workers in the Philippines years ago.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Notwithstanding that, you're both licensed to appear in front of the IRB, right?
My understanding is that the ICCRC licence allows you to appear in front of the IRB representing your client.
