"The structure is just nonsensical and I suppose people who are in this business, and are following this, would think why would I apply for a job that Mickey Mouse should be doing?" -- Me. Ronald Poulton

"They're clowns, these special advocates . . . it's a hoax to describe it as a special advocate. It's absolute rubbish." -- M. Adil Charkaoui

Press release from Justice Canada

Special Advocates for Bill C-3 (Security Certificates under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act)

February 22, 2008 - The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today named 13 special advocates, as part of the Government's legislation to amend the security certificate process under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Parliament has passed legislation to strengthen and improve ((NOT! - CJAC) an immigration process that is designed to protect Canadians from threats while respecting individual rights and freedoms.

Under the legislation, which came into force on February 22, 2008, the Minister of Justice is responsible for establishing a list of special advocates. Special advocates - who are qualified lawyers - will protect the interests and rights of individuals who are subject to security certificates, ensuring they are adequately represented during closed proceedings.

After consultation with various organizations such as the Canadian Bar Association and the Federation of Law Societies ((who considers the new law to be probably unconstitutional, according to their presentation before a Parliamentary committee - see quote in our backgrounder, Annex 1 -- CJAC)), the Department of Justice issued a Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the special advocates program on December 20, 2007.

Through an independent process, qualified candidates were recommended to the Minister of Justice. The list of special advocates follows:

    * Ronald G. Atkey
    * Nancy Brooks
    * Gordon Cameron
    * Paul D. Copeland
    * Paul J. J. Cavalluzzo
    * François Dadour
    * James R. K. Duggan
    * Brian Gover
    * Anil K. Kapoor
    * Barbara McIsaac
    * John Norris
    * Lorne Waldman
    * Ivan G. Whitehall