Ottawa, February 17, 2009 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, today announced 12 full-time appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
Sherif Atallah, Roxane Cyr, Mariam Sarwar Pal, Pharès Pierre, Sonia Rodrigue and Jocelyne Senécal were appointed for three-year terms in the Montréal office. Douglas John Cryer, Jacques Fortin, John Gerald Kivlichan and Marie-Claude Andrée Yaacov were appointed for three-year terms in the Toronto office. Larry James Campbell and Douglas Bruce Fortney were appointed for three-year terms in the Vancouver office. These appointments were made in accordance with the IRB’s merit‑based appointment process.
The Minister is committed to delivering on his promise to fill vacancies on the Board with qualified individuals as quickly as possible. With today’s announcement of 12 appointments, and the Minister’s announcement of 13 appointments and three reappointments on January 23, 2009, the Board now stands at close to 90 percent of its full complement. With a lower vacancy rate on the IRB, genuine refugee claims will be processed and finalized faster, while frivolous asylum applications will be dismissed more quickly.
Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Atallah was a Corporate Communications Consultant with David & Goliath Communications Marketing. He also held positions with Diners Club International (Canada), the most recent being Assistant Vice-President, Branding & Marketing Communications. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Communications from McGill University.
Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Cyr was a Tribunal Officer at the IRB. She also held the positions of Hearings Officer with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Parole Officer with the Correctional Service of Canada. Ms. Cyr has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Ottawa.
Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Pal worked as a consultant specializing in economic analysis and legal research. She was also a lawyer in private practice, providing assistance to employees of international organizations involved in grievance processes. She has held the positions of Economist with the Asian Development Bank in the Philippines and Senior Social Policy Expert with the African Development Bank. Ms. Pal received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Victoria, her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and her Master of Arts in Economics from McGill University, as well as her Bachelor of Laws from McGill University.
Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Pierre was Director of International Development for Miro Média. Mr. Pierre holds an Honours Bachelor of Mathematics, with a specialization in Secondary Education and a minor in Administration and Political Science, from the Université du Québec à Montréal.
Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Rodrigue was a lawyer in private practice, specializing in immigration and refugee law in Montréal. She was also a lawyer with the law firm William, Aguilar and Associates in Montréal. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval. Ms. Rodrigue was called to the Barreau du Québec in 1991.
Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Senécal was a Tribunal Officer at the IRB. She also worked in a number of other positions within the IRB, including those of Research Officer in the documentation centre and Case Officer in the registry. Ms. Senécal did her studies in nursing and social sciences at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal.
Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Cryer was Director of Development for New Connections Ministries, which offers a one-year recovery program for addicts and ex-offenders. He has also held the position of Director of Public Policy with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. He has extensive experience as a Legislative Assistant and has pastored Christian churches in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Mr. Cryer received his Bachelor of Religious Education from the Alberta Bible College.
Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Fortin was a notary in private practice in Gatineau. He was also a lawyer in private practice in Montréal and in Hull. Mr. Fortin has a Bachelor of Arts, a Licentiate in Laws and a Diploma in Notarial Law from the University of Ottawa. Mr. Fortin was called to the Barreau du Québec in 1969 and to the Chambre des notaires du Québec in 1987.
Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Kivlichan was a Tribunal Officer with the IRB. He also held the positions of Intermediate Accountant with Orenstein and Partners as well as Staff Accountant with Peat Marwick. He received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and his Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Kivlichan was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1982.
Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Yaacov was Legal Counsel for the Durham Children’s Aid Society. She has also held the position of Legal Counsel for the Children’s Aid Societies of Brant and Toronto. She has been a Program Consultant and Settlement Project Officer with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Ms. Yaacov received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University, her Master of Arts from the University of Toronto and her Bachelor of Laws from the Osgoode Hall Law School.
Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Campbell was Vice Chair and previously Senior Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal in British Columbia. He has also held the positions of Vice Chair and Member of the Workers’ Compensation Review Board, and Client Services Manager and Case Manager with the Worker’s Compensation Board of British Columbia. Mr. Campbell received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary and his Master of Business Administration in International Business from the Cass Business School of the City University in London, England.
Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Fortney was an independent Management Consultant specializing in the fields of international business development, finance and treasury. He was the Vice-President, Project Financing, of SNC-Lavalin Capital in Montréal. He also held several positions with Export Development Canada, the most recent being Chief Representative for Mexico. Mr. Fortney received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba and his Bachelor in Public Administration as well as his Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa.
Created in 1989, the IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. The Board has three divisions—the Refugee Protection Division, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Immigration Division. The IRB determines refugee protection claims made in Canada, hears immigration appeals, and conducts admissibility hearings and detention reviews.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alykhan Velshi
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Alykhan.Velshi@cic.gc.ca
Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
