Friday, August 24, 2007
There have been several negative comments in the Press recently about the activities of immigration consultants and lawyers.
Below is our response in support of the regulatory process and consumer protection.
To: The Editor of the Toronto Star
Re: Article about Immigration Consultants
The Canadian Socierty of Immigration Consultants has manadatory insurance in place, and a strict Code of Consuct for its members. It is not to blame for the behaviour of ghost consultants, anymore than the Law Societies can be blamed for still having the occasional dishonest member, and this despite the fact that they have had several centuries over which to develop their disciplinary processes.
The real problem where "ghost consultants" in Canada are concerned lies with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, whose own policy manuals interpret the law as allowing anyone, even if unqualified, unscrupulous, and unregulated, to dispense immigration advice and to asist with immigration applications for a fee up until the point where an immigration application has actually been submitted. Until that is changed, and made illegal, "ghost consultants" will continue to profit from a legal business activity that is condoned by Ottawa, and the unfortunate consumer will continue to suffer.
Ron Liberman, Certified Canadian Immigration Consultan
Best Place Immigration
1500 West Georgia-Suite 1400
Vancouver, B.C. V6G 2Z6, Canada
Below is our response in support of the regulatory process and consumer protection.
To: The Editor of the Toronto Star
Re: Article about Immigration Consultants
The Canadian Socierty of Immigration Consultants has manadatory insurance in place, and a strict Code of Consuct for its members. It is not to blame for the behaviour of ghost consultants, anymore than the Law Societies can be blamed for still having the occasional dishonest member, and this despite the fact that they have had several centuries over which to develop their disciplinary processes.
The real problem where "ghost consultants" in Canada are concerned lies with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, whose own policy manuals interpret the law as allowing anyone, even if unqualified, unscrupulous, and unregulated, to dispense immigration advice and to asist with immigration applications for a fee up until the point where an immigration application has actually been submitted. Until that is changed, and made illegal, "ghost consultants" will continue to profit from a legal business activity that is condoned by Ottawa, and the unfortunate consumer will continue to suffer.
Ron Liberman, Certified Canadian Immigration Consultan
Best Place Immigration
1500 West Georgia-Suite 1400
Vancouver, B.C. V6G 2Z6, Canada
Labels: Canadian immigration - article about consultants
