News Release - Appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Ottawa, September 5, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced two full-time appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).

Renée Bourque and Alexander George Johnstone were appointed to the Montréal regional office for three-year terms. These appointments were made in accordance with the IRB’s merit-based appointment process.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Bourque was a lecturer at the Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal. She was also the founder and manager of Ateliers CIPC Inc. Ms. Bourque received a bachelor’s degree in geography from Université Laval.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Johnstone was a member of the Canadian Forces, most recently in the Chief of Defence Intelligence office. He received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in History) from Carleton University and a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.

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 further information (media only), please contact:

Tim Vail
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca