Citizenship and Immigration committee  I do not know how the department works, but I am familiar with the mandate you are describing and the duties therein. However, I really do not know if there is actually a complaint system because that is not within my purview and has nothing to do with the protocol I submitted to you.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, I really have to take time here to explain a bit. I've been 41 years in the government, 38 of which was in human resource management. I've done executive recruiting. I've been involved in all aspects of labour relations. Then you go back to competencies and merit systems.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, I didn't. It was done prior to my arrival. In fairness to the individual, he had passed the nine competencies.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The competencies, yes.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  He did.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes. I should qualify here that I don't have the power to terminate; I just have the power to recommend.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  But I would distinguish two things here. In terms of ethics behaviour like the kind we just saw, I don't have a process that would have captured that. The person had a good file. He was a good member, to my knowledge and to the knowledge of everyone, in terms of what he did. So I don't want to prejudge.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think it's the government's prerogative. I have no opinion to offer there.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I will try to answer your question as honestly and directly as possible. The government is consulting me over how much time the procedure would take should any appeals be lodged in light of the legislation, how much it would cost and what sort of mechanism, methodology and recruitment process would be put in place.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That is a hypothetical question. I can only answer concrete questions.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  There was a website on my site. We have a secretariat, and people apply through the secretariat. They used to apply through ministers or members of Parliament, and they would be sent to us to apply. The interest would be from all over. But all requests for interest come through the secretariat, which reports to me.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I can just confirm the date.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No. It was the government that felt it might be the way to go. And it turned out to be the way to go.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think that is a political matter. It is up to the government to decide that. As Chair person, it is not up to me to express an opinion, unless the government asked me to. It is incumbent on government to decide whether or not there should be one level of appeal or two commissioners.