Citizenship and Immigration committee  The union is not the one putting in the request for funding before the government.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I would have liked to see funding come in before this last year. I think the IRB is going to be able to do the job. It's being better funded now, and hopefully this government will make a decision to make that funding longer term, but it's going to be able to deliver now.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I don't know if I would say exacerbated the situation, but the bottom line is that there was a need for additional funding, and the funding needs to be long-term.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I struggle with news reports saying that they've given up. They have done absolutely everything but give up. In fact, they're working harder than ever. Now that they're being provided with the funding to be able to meet the increased demand on the board—

Citizenship and Immigration committee  You'd have to ask that question to the IRB.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'm qualifying my comments based on the discussions I've had with PM-6s across the country.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Those aren't stats that I track.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Those aren't stats that I track, so I wouldn't be able to answer that question.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for asking that question. We're working with the employer on addressing the mental health of the workers, which is our number one priority at this time.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes, they are.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Of course.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I spoke earlier to the fact that our members have provided the IRB with countless hours of uncompensated labour, and I think that speaks to their commitment to the work they do. They should be compensated for that time. We have brilliant staff at the IRB. We have people with master's degrees who speak multiple languages and who work at CR-4 levels.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I would have a lot to say on all of those areas. Is it possible for me to provide written submissions to the committee?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It's hindering the board's ability to retain its employees, because the funding is sporadic and never long-term. We're not able to attract. We're not able to post our permanent positions, and then we're not able to retain staff, because we don't know if the funding will be there the following year.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Absolutely.