It's a pleasure to be here. Thank you so much.
Thank you to the witnesses for coming today.
I practised law for about a year on Bay Street in corporate mergers and acquisitions, but I didn't go to law school to practice corporate mergers and acquisitions. I went to law school because I felt that it would give me an opportunity to correct some wrongs that I felt were happening in society. I did a JD/MBA. The cost of it was quite high, so I found myself on Bay Street before I was elected to the House.
In my experience as a member of Parliament, the best part of the job is being able to help people. In my constituency office, we've stopped seven deportations, and we're working on our eighth.
Equally, I will say, the most disappointing part of the job is when I'm not able to help somebody because of the system and sometimes as a result of poor legal advice that the constituent has received.
My question is for the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers. Do you keep data on your success rates? Also, do you interact with the offices of the members of Parliament? We do have resources that could help to try to alleviate some of your caseload. I'm working with your association on a case right now in my neck of the woods. I'd just like your comments on that and on how we can partner across the country—the 338 offices—to help solve some of your issues.