OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- 09/05/08 --
The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced two full-time appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
Renee Bourque and Alexander George Johnstone were appointed to the Montreal regional office for three-year terms. These appointments were made in accordance with the IRB's merit-based appointment process.
Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Bourque was a lecturer at the Universite de Montreal and Universite du Quebec a Montreal. She was also the founder and manager of Ateliers CIPC Inc. Ms. Bourque received a bachelor's degree in geography from Universite Laval.
Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Johnstone was a member of the Canadian Forces, most recently in the Chief of Defence Intelligence office. He received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in History) from Carleton University and a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.
Created in 1989, the IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. 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.
Contacts:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Minister's Office
Tim Vail
Press Secretary
613-954-1064
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
