Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
John Murray, CEO of The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
by mail
Re: Specialization Program
Dear Mr. Murray,
On behalf of the Canadian Immigration Consultants, we would like to bring to your attention some of our concerns regarding the Specialization Program.
As per the College’s Bylaw’s Section 10.7, (a) after July 1, 2022, or such other date as may be fixed by the Board by resolution, a licensee holding a Class L2, Class L4, or Class L5 license must not represent persons before the IRB.
We are completely supportive of the College’s mandate of protecting the public. However, the Specialization Program as offered by the College seems to be running short of cohorts and exams that most of RCICs who have clients to represent before IRB have to withdraw and abandon the Client in the middle of the process.
As per the Code of Professional Conduct of CICC Article 11.1 When Withdrawal Required 11.1.1 A Member shall withdraw as the Client’s representative if: (i) discharged by the Client; (ii) instructed by the Client to do something illegal or in contravention of this Code; (iii) the Member’s continued involvement will place the Member in a conflict of interest; or (iv) the Member is not competent to handle the matter as the
representative’s Client.
Convincing some clients that we, as members of CICC, are regulated and competent to advocate for them is difficult enough. Therefore, we must withdraw from the case based on section (iv) as the other section could not be applied. As our clients have already heard some rumors in the market about the competency of the RCIC in representing the clients, sometimes we have to explain what we are competent to do and what we are not. Now, we have to withdraw from the cases and abandon them, which is proof of those rumors.
We believe withdrawing from the case:
- Will be huge damage to the reputation of RCIC in the immigration market that won’t be fixed for a long time.
- As per the Code of conduct, Article 6. Quality of Service 6.1 Maintenance of Quality Service 6.1.1 A Member must, at all times, use best efforts to (ii) conduct Client affairs in an efficient, cost-effective manner;
By July 2022 deadline, we have to ask the Client to hire another representative. Changing retainers and passing clients to other consultants can be a lengthy and costly process and often traumatizing for those who are vulnerable and who rely on the RCIC counsel that they have carefully selected that is not in line with this article.
And as many RCICs, have taken the specialization course or are in process, and yet there is little opportunity to take exams within the appropriate time, especially given that exam release dates are lengthy, only a very few RCICs could take their license before the deadline.
We recommend postponing the deadline for at least six months and opening more exam slots with faster exam results. Therefore, the RCICs will have enough time to pass the exam while they are not obliged to withdraw from the cases that are not protecting the clients or the reputation of the RCICs.
Signed by Participating RCICS- Please sign with your full name and your RCIC NUMBER
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Updates
May 22, 2022
I have been hearing from so many of you who are currently forced to abandon clients mid-process because of these rigid program delays. This is not just about our professional standing but about the real people left without representation because the system is failing to provide the necessary paths for us to work. We are currently preparing to press the board for clarity on these missing cohorts.
May 22, 2022
Seeing this kind of movement confirms I am not the only one forced to abandon clients mid-process because of these rigid requirements. It is a massive relief to know that so many colleagues understand the professional strain this training bottleneck puts on our practices.
Reached 100 supporters
May 22, 2022
55 Comments
I have clients waiting to be called for a RPD hearing and most of the work has been completed, This is simply not just. I just want to write the SP exam on June 8th, Cohort 10. This should have been better managed. How to break the embarrassing news to clients? Reputation, reputation damage, RCIC and CICC ! RCIC# R514945
I have been practicing at IRB for over 5 years. Applied in Sept 2021 for spl course and college placed in April 2022 cohort. Deadline of 1 July 2022 certainly needs to be extended as cohorts were not available with college. Not the fault of RCICs
This is an "access to justice" issue for our clients and it is not in their best interests to deprive them of the representatives they have already retained and come to trust.
Very tough times, recovering financially from two COVID years which impacted our lives and business. Selecting the cohort was beyond my control, finishing my cohort on 1-july 2022 and selecting when take the exam is beyond my control. Then, some people will be likened and I will not be because they were able to finish the courses earlier than me. That is not fair. Note, my first follow up email on my registration was October 2021.
Please note that July 2022 deadline is not achievable and stressful. There are cases that we have been working on for more than a year waiting for the hearing day and now we have to ask the client to hire another representative. Changing retainers and passing clients to other consultants can be a lengthy and costly process and it is not protecting the public who trusted and depended on us for many months now.
RCIC #711498
R519545
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
John Murray, CEO of The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
by mail
Re: Specialization Program
Dear Mr. Murray,
On behalf of the Canadian Immigration Consultants, we would like to bring to your attention some of our concerns regarding the Specialization Program.
As per the College’s Bylaw’s Section 10.7, (a) after July 1, 2022, or such other date as may be fixed by the Board by resolution, a licensee holding a Class L2, Class L4, or Class L5 license must not represent persons before the IRB.
We are completely supportive of the College’s mandate of protecting the public. However, the Specialization Program as offered by the College seems to be running short of cohorts and exams that most of RCICs who have clients to represent before IRB have to withdraw and abandon the Client in the middle of the process.
As per the Code of Professional Conduct of CICC Article 11.1 When Withdrawal Required 11.1.1 A Member shall withdraw as the Client’s representative if: (i) discharged by the Client; (ii) instructed by the Client to do something illegal or in contravention of this Code; (iii) the Member’s continued involvement will place the Member in a conflict of interest; or (iv) the Member is not competent to handle the matter as the
representative’s Client.
Convincing some clients that we, as members of CICC, are regulated and competent to advocate for them is difficult enough. Therefore, we must withdraw from the case based on section (iv) as the other section could not be applied. As our clients have already heard some rumors in the market about the competency of the RCIC in representing the clients, sometimes we have to explain what we are competent to do and what we are not. Now, we have to withdraw from the cases and abandon them, which is proof of those rumors.
We believe withdrawing from the case:
- Will be huge damage to the reputation of RCIC in the immigration market that won’t be fixed for a long time.
- As per the Code of conduct, Article 6. Quality of Service 6.1 Maintenance of Quality Service 6.1.1 A Member must, at all times, use best efforts to (ii) conduct Client affairs in an efficient, cost-effective manner;
By July 2022 deadline, we have to ask the Client to hire another representative. Changing retainers and passing clients to other consultants can be a lengthy and costly process and often traumatizing for those who are vulnerable and who rely on the RCIC counsel that they have carefully selected that is not in line with this article.
And as many RCICs, have taken the specialization course or are in process, and yet there is little opportunity to take exams within the appropriate time, especially given that exam release dates are lengthy, only a very few RCICs could take their license before the deadline.
We recommend postponing the deadline for at least six months and opening more exam slots with faster exam results. Therefore, the RCICs will have enough time to pass the exam while they are not obliged to withdraw from the cases that are not protecting the clients or the reputation of the RCICs.
Signed by Participating RCICS- Please sign with your full name and your RCIC NUMBER
Updates
May 22, 2022
I have been hearing from so many of you who are currently forced to abandon clients mid-process because of these rigid program delays. This is not just about our professional standing but about the real people left without representation because the system is failing to provide the necessary paths for us to work. We are currently preparing to press the board for clarity on these missing cohorts.
May 22, 2022
Seeing this kind of movement confirms I am not the only one forced to abandon clients mid-process because of these rigid requirements. It is a massive relief to know that so many colleagues understand the professional strain this training bottleneck puts on our practices.
Reached 100 supporters
May 22, 2022
55 Comments
R508001 Despite my 8 years representing clients before IRB, I obey the rules and I am in my Specialization course, however, this deadline dated on July 1, 2022 must be postponed to a more reasonable date. I agree that it is really a big setback to an RCIC reputation when you suddenly cancels a retainer telling we are not authorized or incompetent. As professionals, we deserve be treated more respectfully. July 1, 2023 is a reasonable date.
I have clients waiting to be called for a RPD hearing and most of the work has been completed, This is simply not just. I just want to write the SP exam on June 8th, Cohort 10. This should have been better managed. How to break the embarrassing news to clients? Reputation, reputation damage, RCIC and CICC ! RCIC# R514945
I have been practicing at IRB for over 5 years. Applied in Sept 2021 for spl course and college placed in April 2022 cohort. Deadline of 1 July 2022 certainly needs to be extended as cohorts were not available with college. Not the fault of RCICs
This is an "access to justice" issue for our clients and it is not in their best interests to deprive them of the representatives they have already retained and come to trust.
Very tough times, recovering financially from two COVID years which impacted our lives and business. Selecting the cohort was beyond my control, finishing my cohort on 1-july 2022 and selecting when take the exam is beyond my control. Then, some people will be likened and I will not be because they were able to finish the courses earlier than me. That is not fair. Note, my first follow up email on my registration was October 2021.
Please note that July 2022 deadline is not achievable and stressful. There are cases that we have been working on for more than a year waiting for the hearing day and now we have to ask the client to hire another representative. Changing retainers and passing clients to other consultants can be a lengthy and costly process and it is not protecting the public who trusted and depended on us for many months now.
RCIC #711498
R519545
More like this
We demand a public inquiry into the process the led Jason Kenney and his staff…
SC:L Candidates in Limbo seek opportunity to take SC:L Performance Exam
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R508001 Despite my 8 years representing clients before IRB, I obey the rules and I am in my Specialization course, however, this deadline dated on July 1, 2022 must be postponed to a more reasonable date. I agree that it is really a big setback to an RCIC reputation when you suddenly cancels a retainer telling we are not authorized or incompetent. As professionals, we deserve be treated more respectfully. July 1, 2023 is a reasonable date.