News Release — Minister Kenney Announces Four Citizenship Judge Appointments for the Greater Toronto Area

Ottawa, May 1, 2013 —Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today the appointment of four citizenship judges for the Greater Toronto Area.

Prior to her appointment, Karen J. McMillan was a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada for six years and presided over quasi-judicial hearings and adjudicated refugee matters. She is active in the community as a Canadian National Institute for the Blind volunteer, Ontario Basketball Association Manager and Rotary Club member.

Rafiq Rokerya was an Audit Manager for the Canada Revenue Agency. He has served the City of Mississauga as Vice Chair of the Appeal Tribunal, Chair of the Election Campaign Finance Committee, and a member of the Compliance Audit Committee for the Peel District School Board. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Fellowship Designation FCGA by the Certified General Accountants of Canada, as well as the Ontario Distinguished Service Award by the Certified General Accountants of Ontario, in recognition of his commitment to the community and to his profession.

Lilian Ruth Klein LL.M., C. Med. was the National Director, League for Human Rights at B’nai Brith Canada and is a Chartered Mediator specializing in community, workplace and health disputes. She is a published author, editor and public speaker. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and has been recognized for her anti-racism work and human rights advocacy.

Benson Lau M.D. was a Physician with the Mon Sheong Home for the Aged, the Medical Director of Drs Paul and John Rekai Long Term Care facility, a Supervisor at the Cardiac Stress Laboratory, and the owner of a family practice. He has been appointed to serve as a part-time citizenship judge. Originally from Hong Kong, Benson Lau is the Director of the Chinese Cultural Center of Greater Toronto as well as Board Member of the Chung Wah Chinese School.

Citizenship judges are responsible for making decisions on citizenship applications, presiding over citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of citizenship to new citizens.

Citizenship judges are appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. New appointees are chosen from a list of qualified candidates who have gone through rigorous screening, including a written exam, reference check and oral interview. Candidates for citizenship judge appointments are evaluated against the skills required by the position: information-seeking, judgment/analytical thinking, decision-making, effective communication, cross-cultural sensitivity, leadership, self-confidence, self-control and writing ability.

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Photos of Minister Kenney are available.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Alexis Pavlich
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.