Pre-Publication of the Rules in Canada Gazette, Part I

July 4, 2011

Refugee Protection Division Rules, Refugee Appeal Division Rules and Oath or Solemn Affirmation of Office Rules (Immigration and Refugee Board) (known collectively as the IRB rules) were pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

The proposed rules were developed with input from IRB personnel and a wide range of stakeholders during pre-consultations in August/September and November/December 2010.

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Sylvia Cox-Duquette and her team in Legal Services, in particular, David Vinokur, Rosemary Catizzone, Galia Rouleau-Dumont, and Ritva Ahti, as well as Elsy Jetty Chakkalakal, Richard Tyndorf, and Sharon Silberstein, for their hard work in developing and drafting the rules and having them ready for the original pre-publication date. Legal Services also worked with the Regulations Section of the Department of Justice, as required by this formal regulatory process.

I also want to acknowledge and thank the Reform Office for its extensive work in organizing the internal and external consultations and for liaising with Treasury Board and other government departments and agencies in order to get the rules to this stage.

As the official newspaper of the Government of Canada, the Canada Gazette serves as a consultative tool which gives all Canadians the opportunity to provide their comments on proposed regulations, including rules. I encourage all of you to be a part of this important democratic process and to take the time to review the rules and provide comments as appropriate.

Comments concerning the proposed rules are due within 30 days of the pre-publication (July 2, 2011).  All such representations must cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, the date of publication, and be addressed to Ms. Sylvia Cox-Duquette, Senior General Counsel, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, 344 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K1 (Fax: 613-995-2355 or email.)

Once the consultation period closes, the IRB will consider all the comments received and make any necessary changes to the rules.  The final rules are expected to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, in the fall of 2011.

For your information, it is also expected that consequential and other amendments to the Immigration Division Rules and the Immigration Appeal Division Rules will be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, in the summer/fall of 2011.

I thank you again for your participation in the rules development process.

Ken Sandhu for
Brian Goodman
Chairperson