Citizenship and Immigration committee  Could I comment on that, please?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  To get back to the fees, just because you go to the RAD doesn't eliminate the possibility of going to Federal Court afterwards. That's number one. I believe we all want the same thing here. We want a more efficient system. From my point of view, a more efficient system would be overhauling the refugee system, as opposed to just adding the RAD to a dysfunctional system.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Well, in some cases, that is the system we're looking at, absolutely.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If you add RAD without making a significant overhaul of the refugee system, bogus refugee claimants can remain here indefinitely for decades. There is the case of Mahmoud Mohammad Issa Mohammad. He is a terrorist who was given a 17-year sentence by a Greek court for an attack on an El-Al airliner in 1968.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  You said it would take about a year. If the decision of the RAD is not what you want, it's still appealable to the Federal Court. You're not eliminating the Federal Court from this equation by adding a RAD. If you eliminate the Federal Court and let the refugee appeal division have the last word, that's another thing, but the Federal Court is always there at any level.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It is very easy to use the system to prolong your stay in Canada; it's as simple as that. You can make a refugee claim--you can be a diplomat, an international student, or a visitor--if you don't want to go back or you can't renew your visa. These are instances of clients who have come to see me and asked, “What if I make a refugee claim?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Could I...?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It is just an example.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I can answer in French. Go ahead.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Can I answer that?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I wanted to use that to point out that we already have so many levels of appeal that it can delay or avoid deportation for 10 or 20 years. All I am wondering is why add another appeal level without first...

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Okay.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That's right, and when I was appointed to the board--

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I was appointed in 1997.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes, it is.