News Release - Reappointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board

OTTAWA, October 30, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced two full-time reappointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). These reappointments were made in accordance with the IRB’s Governor-in-Council merit-based reappointment process.

Michel Jobin has been reappointed as a full-time member in the Montreal regional office for a term of two years, effective September 8, 2006. Mr. Jobin has been with the Board since September 7, 1998. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Jobin practised law with Pelletier, Rioux, Bossé and with Massé et al. He also worked for the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Education and the Department of Post-Secondary Education and Science at the Government of Quebec. Mr. Jobin received his Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval as well as a diploma in College Education and a Bachelor of Political Science.

Anna Maria Silvestri-Corriveau has been reappointed as a full-time member in the Montréal regional office for a term of two years, effective September 8, 2006. Ms. Silvestri-Corriveau has been with the Board since September 7, 1998. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Silvestri was a self-employed researcher focusing on subjects relating to municipal law, municipal taxation and realty assessment. She also worked as a municipal law instructor at the Collège de l’Assomption, as a researcher for the Bureau de Révision de l’Évaluation Foncière du Québec (the Quebec property assessment review office) and as a legal aid consultant in the Montréal offices of FILEF, an Italian federation for emigrant workers and families. Ms. Silvestri received her Bachelor of Laws and her Master of Laws in Social Law and Labour Law from the Université du Québec à Montréal.

Created in 1989, the IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. 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 more information:

Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 954-1064