News Release

Appointment of Chairperson of Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Ottawa, June 4, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the appointment of Brian P. Goodman as Chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) for a period of four years.

Mr. Goodman was first appointed as a member of the IRB on August 7, 2001. He was assigned to the Convention Refugee Determination Division (now called Refugee Protection Division) in Toronto. He was reappointed on August 7, 2003. On May 8, 2006, he was designated Deputy Chairperson of the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD). In this capacity, Mr. Goodman led the Division through the planning and implementation of measures to transform the IAD into a more flexible and proactive tribunal. With the announced departure of Chairperson Jean‑Guy Fleury, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration designated Mr. Goodman as the Interim Chairperson starting March 17, 2007.

Mr. Goodman received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, and his Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws (Public Law) from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1974. Before joining the IRB, he held senior legal and executive positions in several provincial ministries and agencies. He has served as Chair of the Rent Review Hearings Board and acted as Mining and Lands Commissioner. He was also Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Public Law Division in Ontario.

The Chairperson of the IRB is the Chief Executive Officer of the organization and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The Chairperson provides leadership and guidance to the organization and is responsible for the supervision and direction of the work and staff of the Board.

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.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Philippe Mailhot
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Marina Wilson
Spokesperson, Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650