News Release – Government of Canada announces fifteen reappointments and two designations to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Ottawa, June 30, 2011 — Fifteen reappointments and two designations to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) were announced today by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

Marie-Josée Hadaya and Michael Hamelin were reappointed in the Montréal regional office.

Barry D. Barnes, Kirk Dickenson, Cathryn Laurie Forbes, Linda Hart, Judy Lewis, Donald Virtue Macdougall, Louise Paquette-Neville, Paul G.C. Robinson, Stephen Rudin, Michael Sterlin, and Cynthia L. Summers were reappointed in the Toronto regional office. Hazelyn Ross was reappointed and designated Assistant Deputy Chairperson in the Toronto regional office.

Kim D. Workun was reappointed and designated Assistant Deputy Chairperson in the Vancouver regional office.

These reappointments were made in accordance with the IRB’s merit-based 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 84 appointments and 66 reappointments to the IRB. The IRB has been at 80% or above of its full complement since January 2009, and at 93% or above 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.

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For further information (media only), please contact:

Candice Malcolm
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada

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

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