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