News Release – Minister Kenney announces appointment and reappointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Ottawa, October 6, 2009 — One appointment and eight reappointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) were announced today by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

“This government is committed to delivering on our promise to fill vacancies on the Board with qualified individuals as quickly as possible after vacancies arise,” said Minister Kenney.

Patrick Lemieux was appointed for a three–year term in the Montréal regional office. Gilles L. Guénette was reappointed for a five–year term in the Ottawa regional office. Alain Bissonnette, Michel Byczak, Dana Kean and Ivan M. Lerner were reappointed for five–year terms in the Montréal regional office. Walter Kawun and Daniel McSweeney were reappointed for five–year terms in the Toronto regional office. Michal Mivasair was reappointed for a five–year term in the Vancouver regional office.

These appointments were made in accordance with the IRB’s merit–based appointment process. Since October 2008, Minister Kenney has announced 51 appointments and 19 reappointments to the IRB.

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 biographies on the IRB members, please see below.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Alykhan Velshi
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Alykhan.Velshi@cic.gc.ca

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

Backgrounder

• Appointment and Reappointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada