Citizenship and Immigration committee  Hello, Mr. Chair and honourable committee members. My name is Gabrielle Frédette Fortin. I'm here today as an individual. I'm one of the youngest regulated Canadian immigration consultants, or RCICs, in the profession. I believe I can speak to you today as a representative of

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The example here refers to an immigration consultant. However, I think it's very important to remember that the ICCRC has no power under the legislation to investigate or discipline unauthorized representatives. We work with the authorities. Complaint and discipline mechanisms ca

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I have no idea. However, I know that people can be suspended or that their licences can be revoked. The process is in place, and all these options are available.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I've heard from many witnesses to date. When the witnesses are lawyers, they blame the consultants, and when the witnesses are consultants, they blame the lawyers. I don't like this practice. Here's my personal experience. I have a bachelor's degree in public affairs and interna

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, it's not my specialty.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think the response doesn't necessarily coincide with the refugee crises. I think these complaints have always been made. I'm trying to explain who these complaints are coming from. The complaints are coming from insiders.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I've thought about this issue. Regulating settlement agencies and the immigration work of all the people I mentioned earlier, even though they contravene section 91, and forcing all applicants to be represented would result in the representative's name and number being included

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, I disagree. A lawyer who has just finished an internship won't represent a client at the Supreme Court. It's the same thing for me. I don't have much experience in the field, so I won't represent a client before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Lawyers don't have

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I didn't take that training. I completed 500 hours of training after obtaining my bachelor's degree in international relations.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think IRCC already has plans to increase the number of hours of immigration consultant training. Currently, the training takes 500 hours. Since I took other legal training, I think I have the skills needed to do my job.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  My opinion is about the same. We need to choose a model, a legal status, that would help the ICCRC support the fight against unauthorized representatives. We need to give more power to regulatory bodies. We need to stop using the term “ghost consultant”. In my presentation, I sh

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think it would involve spending energy on something that isn't essential. When people use a service, they must be diligent and consider one, two or three options. When one consultant charges too much, it's always possible to select another consultant. On that note, I have a su

Citizenship and Immigration committee  There are significant variances. I think it's a matter of supply and demand. One consultant may need more resources than another. Consultants are allowed to increase their prices. It doesn't matter. Clients can access the registry on the IRCC site, and they can consider other opt

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In the immigration field, all people whose work concerns section 91 should operate under a regulatory body.