Finance committee  These are actually Governor in Council appointee positions, so we're moving from a thousand part-time members to 74. It's difficult to know how many of the existing part-time members may possibly be participating in the new tribunal until the process of staffing those positions i

Finance committee  I think right now they're working about two full days a month.

Finance committee  Yes, thank you. Part of the proposal is that by there being full-time members, fully engaged in hearing decisions, particularly at the general division level for the two different sections, this will also be of benefit to clients, because they will get clearer decisions from ex

Finance committee  I didn't mean to suggest that the existing tribunal members are not trained. What I thought I said was that it's difficult for them to be constantly abreast of the constantly changing policies associated with these three programs, and particularly with the employment insurance

Finance committee  We're in the process of developing the job descriptions for the competencies, experience, and skill sets that the members would be required to have to compete for these positions. They will require expertise in the area in which they will be hearing appeals, and they will also, u

Finance committee  Yes, the employment insurance commissioners are participating.

Finance committee  When someone is competing for a position as a member of the various panels, there will be criteria that he has to meet to be appointed. When they're hearing cases on, say, the Canada Pension Plan disability, they will have access to lawyers and medical expertise for their decisio

Finance committee  Exactly.

Finance committee  That's correct.

Finance committee  The expected savings of putting the social security tribunal in place are $25 million.

Finance committee  The individuals who currently are members of the panels will have the opportunity to compete and apply for the positions on the new panels.

Finance committee  No, it's a competitive process.

Finance committee  We're moving from just over 1,000 part-time panel members to 74 full-time panel members.

Finance committee  That's correct.

Finance committee  The commissioners actually are full time. The EI commissioners are full-time positions.