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Citizenship Judge Screening Process

Backgrounder

A comprehensive screening process has been established to provide the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration with qualified and competent candidates to consider for appointment to the position of citizenship judge.

The screening process is administered by the Senior Citizenship Judge and uses a series of competency-based assessment tools to evaluate candidates fairly and objectively against the skills and abilities required by the position:

• Information-seeking
• Judgment/analytical thinking
• Decision-making
• Effective interactive communication
• Cross-cultural sensitivity
• Commitment to learning
• Self-confidence
• Self-control

Initial Screening

To enter the screening process, candidates submit their curriculum vitae and complete the Citizenship Judge Candidate Information Form. This form gathers personal information that is used to determine whether candidates posses the prerequisites for the position:

• Canadian citizenship;
• Fluency in English or French;
• Professional or volunteer achievements that demonstrate a high standard of citizenship;
• A degree from a recognized university or equivalent professional qualification; and
• A minimum of five years of professional experience.

Candidates who do not possess these prerequisites are screened out of the process.

Written Exam

Candidates who are screened in are invited to a three-part written exam. A situational judgement test assesses the following competencies: decision-making, information-seeking, commitment to learning and self-confidence. Candidates’ knowledge of Canada is evaluated by multiple choice and short answer questions, and their written communication skills are assessed by essay questions.

Candidates who do not adequately demonstrate the knowledge and competencies assessed by the written exam are screened out of the process.

Reference Checks

Reference checks are conducted to gather fact-based information about how the remaining candidates have demonstrated the required competencies in work or volunteer situations in the past.

Interview

Candidates are then invited to a behavioural-event-interview process to assess the remaining competencies: judgement/analytical thinking, cross-cultural sensitivity, effective interactive communication and self-control.

At the end of the screening process, a final determination is made as to whether candidates are qualified and competent to serve as citizenship judges. This information is provided by the Senior Citizenship Judge to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration for his consideration when appointments are prepared.

The screening process is open to people from all walks of life. Anyone interested in participating in the process is asked to contact the Office of the Senior Citizenship Judge at the following address for further information.

Citizenship Judge Screening Process
Citizenship Commission
219 Laurier Avenue West, Room A920
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1

Fax: (613) 954-4621

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