Information Session on New Regulation of Immigration Consultants

June 25, 2010

Toronto, June 25, 2010 – After numerous controversial stories appeared in the media surrounding the proliferation and unethical practices of “ghost” consultants, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney introduced legislation on June 8th in the House of Commons to “crack down on crooked immigration consultants who exploit prospective immigrants”.

The Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act would strengthen the rules governing those who charge a fee for immigration advice, close immigration system loopholes currently exploited by “crooked consultants”, and improve the way in which immigration consultants are regulated. The current regulatory body for Certified Immigration Consultants [the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC)] “has lost the faith of the public and its own members,” says Sol Gombinsky, Ontario Chapter President, of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) .

Citizenship and Immigration followed the Minister’s announcement for these new consumer-protection measures affecting prospective immigrants and Certified Consultants on June 12 by initiating the consultation process of choosing a new Regulator for the certified consultancy industry.

Mr. Gombinsky said “It’s about time the Certified Consultant-members who had to overcome many hurdles to be examined in all areas of immigration and subsequently certified by the regulator get together to air their views and express their opinions on the future of the Immigration Consulting industry and participate in the choice of its new regulatory body in Canada."

CAPIC wants to ensure that its certified members continue to serve the needs of their diverse multi-lingual, multicultural communities in the efficient, professional and cost-effective way that has been proven to be the preferred choice for prospective immigrants“

According to CIC’s recent public consultation Report’s results on the Use of Immigration Consultants, Lawyers and Other Representatives, certified Immigration Consultants are much preferred by the respondents who overwhelmingly made immigration consultants their first choice of representation over that of lawyers or other representatives..”

CAPIC has invited all members of the Certified Immigration Consulting community, members of the media as well as interested MPs and all interested parties to an industry-wide information session to be held Wednesday June 30, at 6:30 pm, in the North York Central Library’s Auditorium in a welcoming, open atmosphere of discussion.

FACTS:
According to a Report conducted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) in May 2009 that summarized the results of a public consultation on the use of immigration consultants, lawyers and other representatives:

"Certified* Immigration Consultants were the most popular choice and formed the respondent majority’s choice when seeking help with the immigration process (52%), followed by lawyers, and then friends and family. Only one in five (21%) used an immigration lawyer, and almost as many (15%) turned to friends or family. Fewer than one in 20 said they received help from labour, nanny/caregiver or student recruiters."

*Many more of those currently in Canada (65%) got help with their Immigration applications than those who had never come to Canada (38%)"

A wide variety of respondents from around the world participated in this consultation. And the respondents spoke almost one hundred different languages and represented 128 different countries.

Licensed consultants who serve these diverse communities’ immigration needs so capably, being their preferred choice of representation, are understandably anxious about what the forthcoming changes entail, and this information session in designed to be a two-way street for members to receive information, and for them to let their views be known. ALL members of CSIC are invited to attend this free event, including CSIC’s current directors. It is a chance for free and open discussion about the current situation, as well as views for what a new regulatory body should include.

BACKGROUND ON CAPIC

CAPIC-ACCPI is founded on the four pillars of Education, Information, Lobbying and Recognition. CAPIC is the largest non-profit professional association for Canadian immigration consultants with over 400 members. Being the leading association for immigration consultants’ interests and their major voice in any representation, CAPIC-ACCPI is committed to promoting and protecting the practice of all licensed Canadian immigration consultants. CAPIC-ACCPI supports continuous professional development and improvement in all areas of immigration practice increasing our members' ability to deliver highly competent and ethical services deserving of the public trust.

Event details:
OPEN TO ALL MEDIA
Date: Wednesday June 30 @ 6:30-8:30 pm
Place: North York Central Library - 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto
Contact Info for additional details: (416)-483-7044 or admin@capic.ca
www.capic.ca


For more information contact:
Sol Gombinsky
President, Ontario Chapter
CAPIC
Phone: 416.876-8765
Email: sgomby@immnews.com
Website: www.capic.ca

Click here to view our Sources Listing:

Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants Inc. (CAPIC-ACCPI)

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