Rezaei v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2003 FCT 48

Date: 20030121

Docket: IMM-1367-02

Neutral citation: 2003 FCT 48

Ottawa, Ontario, this 21^st day of January, 2003

Present: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BEAUDRY

BETWEEN:

                                                                       IRAJ REZAEI

                                                                                                                                                       Applicant

                                                                              - and -

                                                  THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP

                                                              AND IMMIGRATION

                                                                                                                                                   Respondent

                                                                              - and -

                                                          THE IMMIGRATION AND

                                                                 REFUGEE BOARD

                                                                                                                                                     Intervenor

                          SUPPLEMENTARY REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER

[1]                 Following my Reasons for Order signed on December 5, 2002 (2002 FCT 1259), the Court has received the following questions from the applicant for proposed certification:

  

a)         Can the Immigration and Refugee Board ("IRB") through the Chairperson initiate and delegate to a subordinate an inquiry into the conduct of (sic) and possible discipline of a lawyer or consultant who appears before one of the divisions of the IRB outside of the Rules and procedures of one of the Divisions of the IRB or an actual hearing of one of the divisions of the IRB?

b)         Can a tribunal (of the IRB) undertake to provide counsel appearing before it with the opportunity to comment on and distinguish the case authorities to be relied on by the tribunal in a hearing and then not provide counsel with that opportunity without breaching the rules of natural justice or procedural fairness?

c)         Can the Federal Court in hearing an application for judicial review on the issue of a denial of the tribunal to provide counsel with the case authorities it intends to rely on to comment on or distinguish, which issue forms part of the issues set forth in the order granting leave for judicial review and which is part of the written and oral submissions of the applicant at his hearing for judicial review not rule on the issue without breaching the rules of natural justice or procedural fairness?

d)         Does the Immigration and Refugee Board owe a duty of full disclosure to a person who is the subject of an inquiry into their right to practice prior to calling on that person to respond whether he/she asks for further disclosure of material in the hands of the IRB or not?

  

[2]                 The respondent's position is that none of the above mentioned questions raise a serious question of general importance.

[3]                 After a careful analysis of both submissions, I agree to certify the following question:

Can the Immigration and Refugee Board ("IRB") through the Chairperson initiate and delegate to a subordinate an inquiry into the conduct and possible discipline of a lawyer or consultant who appears before one of the divisions of the IRB?

  

[4]                 Questions b), c) and d) primarily concern facts related to the case at bar. These questions were answered in the disposition of this matter. Accordingly, they do not raise a serious question of general importance and will not be certified.

ORDER

THIS COURT ORDERS that:

1.         The application for judicial review is dismissed.

2.         The following question is certified:

Can the Immigration and Refugee Board ("IRB") through the Chairperson initiate and delegate to a subordinate an inquiry into the conduct and possible discipline of a lawyer or consultant who appears before one of the divisions of the IRB?

  

                                                                                                                                                       

Judge

                                                    FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

                                                                 TRIAL DIVISION

                              NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

    

DOCKET:                                             IMM-1367-02

STYLE OF CAUSE:                           IRAJ REZAEI v. MCI

                                                                                   

  

PLACE OF HEARING:                     Vancouver, British Columbia

DATE OF HEARING:                       November 6, 2002

SUPPLEMENTARY REASONS FOR ORDER OF THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BEAUDRY

DATED:                                                January 21, 2003

  

APPEARANCES:                                                                       

Mr. Robert J. Kincaid                                                                     FOR THE APPLICANT

  

Ms. Brenda Carbonell                                                                  FOR THE RESPONDENT

  

Mr. Joseph J. Arvay, Q.C.                                                            FOR THE INTERVENOR

Mr. Mark G. Underhill                                                                 

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Robert J. Kincaid Law Corporation      FOR THE APPLICANT

Vancouver, BC

Morris Rosenberg                                                                           FOR THE RESPONDENT

Deputy Attorney General of Canada   

Arvay Finlay                                                                                    FOR THE INTERVENOR

Victoria, BC