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

Ottawa, June 23, 2010 — Today reappointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) were announced by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

In the Montréal regional office, Mélanie Raymond was reappointed for a five-year term. In the Toronto regional office, Miriam Freilich, Yilma Makonnen and Harriet Wolman were reappointed for a one-year term and David McBean was reappointed for a five-year term.

These reappointments were made in accordance with the IRB’s merit-based appointment process.

Minister Kenney is committed to delivering on the Government of Canada’s promise to fill vacancies on the Board with qualified individuals as quickly as possible after vacancies arise. Since October 2008, the Minister has made 67 appointments and 39 reappointments to the IRB. The IRB has not fallen below 80% of its full complement since January 2009, and has been above 95% of its full complement since November 2009.

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

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

Backgrounder

• Reappointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada