OTTAWA, Dec. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, today announced the appointment of 17 new members and reappointment of 10 members to the Social Security Tribunal.
These appointments are part of the rigorous new approach to Governor in Council appointments—an approach that uses open, transparent and merit-based selection processes that strive for gender parity and reflect Canada's diversity to support Ministers in making appointment recommendations for positions within their portfolio. The Tribunal renders fair and impartial decisions on appeals regarding the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS) and Employment Insurance (EI) claims for benefits.
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"I am very pleased to announce the reappointment of ten members to the Tribunal. They have proven themselves to be hard working members serving the interest of Canadians. Joining them, seventeen diverse and talented candidates, in whom I have confidence, will deliver just outcomes for Canadians."
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Quick Facts
- The Social Security Tribunal is comprised of two levels of appeal. The General Division, the first level, includes two sections: an EI section for EI appeals and an Income Security section for CPP and OAS appeals. The Appeal Division is the second level.
- Breakdown of new appointments
- Nine full-time members: seven members to the EI section, one member to the Income Security section and one member to the Appeal Division.
- Eight part-time members: four members to the Appeal Division, three members to the EI section and one member to the Income Security section.
- Breakdown of the reappointments
- Four full-time members: two members to the Income Security section, one member to the EI section and one member to the Appeal Division.
- Six part-time members to the Income Security section.
- The Tribunal began its operations on April 1, 2013.
Further Information
- Biographies of newly appointed and reappointed Social Security Tribunal members
Associated Links
- Learn more about Governor in Council appointments and the Social Security Tribunal.
- Visit the Governor in Council appointments website for current and ongoing opportunities.
- Read the Prime Minister's announcement of the new Governor in Council appointment process, February 2016.
Biographies
Oluwabukola Oluwarotimi Adeoye – Brampton, Ontario
Mrs. Adeoye works as an Employee Relations Advisor for the Ontario Government. Her previous work experience as a barrister and solicitor allowed her to acquire experience in a variety of fields of law, including civil litigation, criminal law and labour and employment law. Mrs. Adeoye holds a Master of Laws from the Osgoode Hall Law School. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2011 and is also a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Mrs. Adeoye will become a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of three years.
Angela Ryan Bourgeois – Amherst, Nova Scotia
Ms. Bourgeois has been a part-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2014. For 18 years, Ms. Bourgeois worked as a lawyer in private practice in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. She is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and since 2015 is a non-practising member of the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Bars. She has a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Commerce with a concentration in Sociology and Anthropology from Mount Allison University.
Ms. Bourgeois will become a part-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 30, 2017, for a term of two years.
Nancy Brooks – Ottawa, Ontario
Ms. Brooks is currently the Managing Partner of the Ottawa Office of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP with a practice in public and administrative law, employment law and general commercial litigation. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, The Advocates' Societyand the County of Carleton Law Association. She has also been recognized as an expert in Administrative and Public Law by the Best Lawyers in Canada. She has also authored various publications in the field of law.
Ms. Brooks will become a full-time member of the Appeal Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of three years.
Antoinette Cardillo – Orleans, Ontario
Ms. Cardillo has been a full-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2013. She previously worked as a senior legal counsel for Canada Post Corporation, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Université du Québec à Montréal, a Bachelor's degree in Translation from the Université de Montréal and completed studies in Human Rights and Comparative Law at the Université Robert Schuman in France. She has been a member of the Bar of Quebec since 1998.
Ms. Cardillo will be reappointed for a term of three years. Her reappointment will come into effect on December 7, 2016.
Shu-Tai Cheng – Ottawa, Ontario
Ms. Cheng has been a full-time member of the Tribunal's Appeal Division since 2013. She is a former vice-chair of the Ontario License Appeal Tribunal and executive director of governance and legal services for Scouts Canada. She was a partner in a Canadian international law firm prior to being appointed to administrative tribunals in Ontario. Ms. Cheng has received many legal distinctions, has authored several publications and donates her time as a board member of the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada and of Judo Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1993.
Ms. Cheng will be reappointed for a term of three years. Her reappointment will come into effect on December 7, 2016.
Anne S. Clark – Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
Ms. Clark has been a part-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2014. For more than 20 years, she worked as an advocate, decision-maker and senior executive in the public service in Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. She is also a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and volunteers with the Lunenburg County Ground Search and Rescue. She is an amateur boat builder and ultra-endurance canoe paddler.She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University.
Ms. Clark will be reappointed for a term of two years. Her reappointment will come into effect on January 30, 2017.
Jennifer Cleversey Moffitt – Bathurst, New Brunswick
Ms. Moffitt is a Vice-Chairperson for the Worker's Compensation Appeal Tribunal, as well as an adjudicator for the Small Claims Court for the province of New Brunswick. In addition, Ms. Moffitt has acted as a management consultant/in-house counsel for Gagnon Strategix Consulting. Ms. Moffitt holds a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University. She has been a practicing member of the Law Society of New Brunswick since 2005 and is a current member of several law-related associations and committees. She is also a legal author and editor.
Ms. Moffitt will become a part-time member of the Appeal Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of two years.
Suzanne L. Graves – Toronto, Ontario
Ms. Graves has extensive experience with law. She has been practicing law at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General for over 20 years. Ms. Graves holds a Master of Public Administration from Queen's University, a Bachelor of Laws from the Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies and Education from the University of York in the United Kingdom. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1992.
Ms. Graves will become a part-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of two years.
Alison Kennedy – Ottawa, Ontario
Ms. Kennedy comes from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, where she made quasi-judicial decisions on claims of refugee protection. Ms. Kennedy holds a Master of Laws from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Laws (w. Great Distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan. She is also a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Ms. Kennedy will become a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of three years.
Lilian Ruth Klein – Thornhill, Ontario
Mrs. Klein is a Chartered Mediator who recently served as a Citizenship Judge with the Citizenship Commission at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. She has a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School and holds certification as a mediator from the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Institute of Canada. She is a member of the ADR Institute of Ontario, Canadian Council of Administrative Tribunals and Ethics Practitioners' Association of Canada. Mrs. Klein has authored and edited several publications, and has been recognized for her work in the community in support of diversity and inclusion.
Mrs. Klein will become a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of three years.
Jackie Laidlaw – Toronto, Ontario
Ms. Laidlaw has been a part-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2014. She is also a coach for certified dispute resolution courses at York University. Previously, she was a mediator for the Financial Services Commission of Ontario for over 10 years. Ms. Laidlaw has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from the Universityof Western Ontario. She has also obtained a certificate in Private Investigation with Honours and completed the Administrative Tribunals course from Humber College.
Ms. Laidlaw will be reappointed for a term of two years. Her reappointment will come into effect on January 30, 2017.
Leigh Lampert – Toronto, Ontario
Mr. Lampert is an in-house lawyer with a large Canadian retailer. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Law from Dalhousie University as well as an undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa. Mr. Lampert has also completed the Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards and Tribunals from the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Mr. Lampert is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. He teaches at both York and Ryerson universities. He also serves as a Vice-Chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal and donates his time to multiple community and charitable organizations.
Mr. Lampert will become a part-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. His appointment will come into effect on March 6, 2017, for a term of two years.
Josée Langlois – Québec, Quebec
Ms. Langlois works as a legal researcher for the Government of Quebec's Conseil de la justice administrative. She holds a master's degree in project management from the Université du Québec en Outaouais and a bachelor of laws degree from the Université Laval. Ms. Langlois has also taken doctoral-level courses in law at the Université Laval. She is the author of a number of articles that have appeared in the Chronique déontologique (ethics column) of the blog Expertise, as well as other legal works.
Ms. Langlois will become a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of three years.
Lucie Leduc – Toronto, Ontario
Ms. Leduc has been a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2013. She is also an active member of the Research Ethics Board at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Ms. Leduc used to work in the airline industry and as a senior consultant in the area of workplace discrimination/harassment complaints and mediation. She is a former member of the Employment Insurance Board of Referees. Ms. Leduc has a Law degree and a Social and Labour Law Certificate from the Université du Québec à Montréal.She also holds a Master of Laws degree with Collaborative Program in Bioethics from the University of Toronto.
Ms. Leduc will be reappointed for a term of four years. Her reappointment will come into effect on November 23, 2016.
Yoan Marier – Montréal, Quebec
Mr. Marier has many years of experience working for the Government of Canada. He began with the Canada Border Services Agency and subsequently moved to Transport Canada, where he currently works as a transport of dangerous goods inspector. Throughout his career, Mr. Marier has enforced a number of federal laws and regulations, including the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. He has a bachelor's degree from the Université de Montréal with a major in political science and a minor in economics.
Mr. Marier will become a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. His appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of three years.
Audrey Mitchell – Brampton, Ontario
Ms. Mitchell has more than 25 years of direct application of the Immigration Act and Regulations and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations while working for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Toronto and has taken training in coaching and leadership.
Ms. Mitchell will become a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of three years.
Michael Tyler Moore – Bailieboro, Ontario
Dr. Moore has been a full-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2013. He has been a practising chiropractor and was formerly the medical director of a multi-disciplinary health centre. He holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, a diploma in Acupuncture from the McMaster Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Psychology from McMaster University. He has served as a medical panel member of the Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals.
Dr. Moore will be reappointed for a term of four years. His reappointment will come into effect on November 23, 2016.
Shirley Lynn Netten – Ottawa, Ontario
A lawyer since 1991, Ms. Netten is presently a Vice-Chair of Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. Ms. Netten holds a Master of Health Administration and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, as well as the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators. Ms. Netten has also worked and volunteered with many community and international organizations; she currently serves on the board of Carlington Community Health Centre.
Ms. Netten will become a part-time member of the Appeal Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of two years.
Adam T. Picotte – Richmond, British Columbia
Mr. Picotte has been a part-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2014. He is also employed as legal counsel for the Health Sciences Association of British Columbia, where he provides advice, assistance and representation to injured workers. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from Simon Fraser University. He is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia and is involved in the Canadian Bar Association's British Columbia Branch.
Mr. Picotte will be reappointed for a term of two years. His reappointment will come into effect on January 9, 2017.
Meredith Doreen Porter – Ottawa, Ontario
Ms. Porter is a sole practitioner and member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada. She has taught at both the college and university levels. Ms. Porter holds a Master and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa. She also donates her time to various community organizations, such as chairing the Ottawa–Carleton Detention Centre Community Advisory Board, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and the Dare to Dream program of Level.
Ms. Porter will become a part-time member of the Appeal Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of two years.
John F. L. Rose, B.Ph.Ed., LL.B. – Port McNicoll, Ontario
Mr. Rose has been a part-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2014. Called to the Bar in 1996, he has been a Sole Practitioner for over 10 years. His practice focuses on employment, labour, civil law and family law. He has appeared in all levels of Ontario courts and many employment and labour law tribunals. He has a Bachelor of Laws from Western University and a Bachelor of Physical Education from Brock University. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Deputy Judges Association and Simcoe County Family Law Lawyers' Association.
Mr. Rose will be reappointed for a term of two years. His reappointment will come into effect on January 30, 2017.
Peri Lynn Smith – Victoria, British Columbia
Ms. Smith has over nine years of experience as a legal counsel for the Department of Justice Canada. Currently, she works on Aboriginal Children's Issues for the Department's Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio. In addition, Ms. Smith worked for the British Columbia Ministry of Justice as a Solicitor and Barrister for the Aboriginal Litigation and Research group. Ms. Smith holds a Master of Law from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia.
Ms. Smith will become a part-time member of the Appeal Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of two years.
Bernadette Syverin – Gatineau, Quebec
Ms. Syverin has been working for the Wage Earner Protection Program at Employment and Social Development Canada for over five years and previously worked as a lawyer for the Duguay Leroy Law Firm in Montréal. Ms. Syverin has experience in reviewing Employment Insurance claims, as she also worked as an evaluator of Employment Insurance benefits for Service Canada. Ms. Syverin holds a Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval and is also a member of the Barreau du Québec.
Ms. Syverin will become a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal's General Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of three years.
Alice Toal – Vancouver, British Columbia
Ms. Toal is a lawyer, most recently working as a legal counsel for Metro Vancouver, a regional district, air quality regulator and provider of regional-scale services. Ms. Toal holds a Bachelor of Law (Jurisprudence) from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law in the United Kingdom. Ms. Toal was called to the bar in England and Wales in 2002 and is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Ms. Toal will become a part-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division. Her appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of two years.
George Tsakalis – Toronto, Ontario
Mr. Tsakalis has 17 years of experience working as a lawyer in insurance defence litigation. Currently working for the Brown & Partners LLP, he has also worked for other law firms, including Harrison Pensa; Foster, Townsend, Graham & Associates; and Smith Wowk. He has authored academic papers on legal ethics and administrative law. Mr. Tsakalis holds a Master of Laws in Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution from the Osgoode Hall Law School.
Mr. Tsakalis will become a full-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division. His appointment will come into effect on January 3, 2017, for a term of three years.
Pierre M. Vanderhout – Kingston, Ontario
Mr. Vanderhout has been a part-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2014. He has over 15 years of experience in law and previously worked as a senior legal counsel at The Empire Life Insurance Company in Kingston and as an associate lawyer at the law firm of Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP. He holds a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Bachelor of Commerce, all from Queen's University in Kingston.
Mr. Vanderhout will be reappointed for a term of two years. His reappointment will come into effect on January 9, 2017.
Nicole I. Zwiers – Whitby, Ontario
Ms. Zwiers has been a part-time member of the Income Security section of the Tribunal's General Division since 2014. Ms. Zwiers is also a lawyer and member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. Ms. Zwiers is a law professor at Durham College and is the president of the union local representing faculty at Durham College.
Ms. Zwiers will be reappointed for a term of two years. Her reappointment will come into effect on January 30, 2017.
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
Mathieu Filion, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P., Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, 819-654-5546; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
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