Ottawa, September 14, 2011 -
Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney
today called on the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC)
to do its utmost to ensure a smooth transition to the Immigration
Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC),
the new regulator of immigration consultants.
The ICCRC is
the designated regulator of immigration consultants under the Immigration
and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
and it is crucial that all parties involved make sure that there is no
confusion about who now regulates immigration consultants, said Minister
Kenney.
On
June 30, 2011, after a public consultation process, the ICCRC was
designated, by regulation, as the new regulator of immigration
consultants, replacing CSIC.
These regulations also state that all CSIC members
who were members in good standing on June 30 are now deemed to be members
of the new governing body, the ICCRC,
until October 28, 2011. During this 120-day transition period, these CSIC members
are not required to pay fees to the ICCRC,
which will provide them with ample time to register with the new
regulator.
CSIC has filed an
application before the Federal Court for a judicial review of the decision
to designate the ICCRC as
the regulator of immigration consultants and this hearing will be held in
October. In the meantime, Minister Kenney urges CSIC to
in no way hinder theICCRC's
work.
Under IRPA,
membership in CSIC is
no longer required for individuals wishing to practise as immigration
consultants under federal jurisdiction. The ICCRC,
as the new governing body, is able to determine whether an individual,
other than someone who was a member in good standing of CSIC as
of June 30, 2011, may become a member of the ICCRC.
If CSICmembers
are uncertain of their status, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
encourages them to contact the ICCRC.
Minister Kenney also took the opportunity to remind CSIC that
it would be in the public interest for this organization to act in good
faith and transfer all relevant documents to the ICCRC,
including all previous, outstanding and ongoing complaints and discipline
matters related to their membership.
The ICCRC has
information on its website for immigration consultants about how to
register with them. You may visit its website at
