OTTAWA, October 31, 2003 -- The Honourable Denis Coderre, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), today announced the creation of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), a new, independent and self-regulating body for immigration consultants. The CSIC was incorporated on October 8, 2003."By April 2004, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants will be in a position to provide protection to vulnerable applicants, while enhancing public confidence in the Canadian immigration program," said Minister Coderre. "I am very pleased with the progress we've made to date."In October 2002, the Minister appointed an advisory committee to provide recommendations for his consideration. The Report of the Advisory Committee on Regulating Immigration Consultants was submitted in May 2003 following extensive consultations with organizations, institutions and individuals with expertise in providing immigration advice and services.The recommendations of the report centred on the creation of a self-regulating body. In response, the Minister established, within CIC, the Secretariat on Regulating Immigration Consultants to implement the key recommendations, including the development of an action plan outlining a process to bring this new body into existence.The Secretariat will also work closely with CSIC by providing advice and support to meet the April 2004 deadline. In addition, CSIC's first board of directors has already begun the work required to make CSIC fully operational."Our board is composed of people with consumer protection, professional regulation and consulting experience. It represents the diversity of the Canadian population and our clientele so that a variety of concerns will be addressed," said Benjamin Trister, Chair of the CSIC board.After an initial term of two years, the Board will consist mainly of immigration consultants elected by members. Some individuals will be appointed by the Minister.The incorporation of CSIC on October 8 was the first step in fulfilling Minister Coderre's vision of a fully regulated immigration consultant industry.As of April 2004, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations will be amended. Thereafter, CIC and the Immigration and Refugee Board will conduct business with representatives who charge fees for services only if they are members in good standing of CSIC or a provincial or territorial law society."No one is obliged to hire an immigration consultant," said Minister Coderre. "However, for individuals who do, we want to make sure that the consultants meet the standards for knowledge, service quality and accountability."-30-For more information:Sarah BainPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister(613) 954-1064Susan ScarlettMedia RelationsCommunications Branch(613) 941-7035BACKGROUNDERREGULATION OF IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS A HistoryOctober 3, 2002Minister Coderre announces the formation of the Advisory Committee on Regulating Immigration Consultants to provide recommendations for his consideration.November 27, 2002The Advisory Committee begins consultations to gather information and views on the regulation of the immigration consulting industry from organizations, institutions and individuals with expertise in immigration consulting.May 8, 2003The Advisory Committee submits its final report to Minister Coderre with 37 recommendations that centre on the creation of a self-regulating body.June 18, 2003The Secretariat on Regulating Immigration Consultants is established within CIC to implement the key recommendations of the Advisory Committee. Since that time, the Secretariat has been actively developing a financial and operational framework to support the creation of an independent self-regulating body. Following discussions with key stakeholders, the Secretariat has developed an action plan outlining the steps needed to make the body fully operational.Latest NewsOctober 8, 2003As a first step of the action plan, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) is incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act to serve as a self-regulating body for immigration consultants.The initial members of the Board of Directors, composed of protection, professional regulation and consulting experts, are selected. They are Benjamin Trister, Rivka Augenfeld, John Ryan, Patrice M. Brunet, Imran Qayyum, Elizabeth D. Chow Bryson, Jill Sparling, Francisco Rico-Martinez, Yvonne Atwell and Mark Davidson (ex-officio).Next StepsOctober 2003 - April 2004: Set-up PhaseDuring the set-up phase, the Board of Directors willdevelop membership standards, a code of conduct, complaint and discipline mechanisms, education and training programs, and a liability insurance for immigration consultants;begin to create a compensation mechanism; andstart to accept immigration consultants as members on the understanding that they will be required to pass future examinations and participate in continuing education to maintain their good standing.This set-up phase is expected to be complete by April 2004.As of April 2004, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations will be amended so that CIC and the Immigration and Refugee Board will conduct business with representatives who charge fees for services only if they are members in good standing with CSIC or a provincial or territorial law society.April 2004 - March 2006: Interim PhaseBetween April 2004 and March 2006, CSIC is expected to become fully operational, with a registration process and the monitoring of member consultants. Members will be required to keep their knowledge current by taking refresher courses as part of their ongoing professional development. CSIC will also conduct a review and evaluation of its effectiveness in regulating the industry and adjust its practices accordingly.CANADIAN SOCIETY OFIMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS -INTERIM BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors comprises 10 members from a variety of professional backgrounds. Please note that Board members do not represent their organization or employer.Benjamin J. Trister, ChairChair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Immigration Policy Task Force; past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association's National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section; Co-Chair of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Regulating Immigration Consultants.John P. Ryan, O.S.J., Vice-ChairImmigration practitioner, former senior immigration officer, and immediate past president, Association of Immigration Counsel of Canada; member of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Regulating Immigration Consultants.Patrice M. Brunet, 2nd Vice-ChairLawyer and associate of Brunet Lawyers, Montréal, Quebec; member of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Regulating Immigration Consultants.Rivka Augenfeld, SecretaryPresident of the Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes; Co-Chair of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Regulating Immigration Consultants.Imran Qayyum, MemberImmigration practitioner, immediate past Secretary, Organization of Professional Immigration Consultants.Elizabeth D. Chow Bryson, MemberPast Chair of the Canadian Bar Association's National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section and past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association's British Columbia Citizenship and Immigration Law Section.Jill Sparling, MemberImmigration practitioner and former senior immigration officer, President of the Organization of Professional Immigration Consultants; member of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Regulating Immigration Consultants.Francisco Rico-Martinez, MemberCo-Director, FCJ Hamilton House Refugee Project; resigned from the Minister's Advisory Committee on Regulating Immigration Consultants on March 24, 2003.Yvonne Atwell, MemberConsultant, Atwell & Atwell Human Resource Consultants.Mark Davidson, Ex-OfficioExecutive Director, Secretariat on Regulating Immigration Consultants, CIC.
