IMMIGRATION LAW REPORTER Fourth Series/Quatri`eme s´erie Recueil de jurisprudence en droit de l’immigration VOLUME 25 (Cited 25 Imm. L.R. (4th)) EDITORS-IN-CHIEF/REDACTEURS´ EN CHEF Cecil L. Rotenberg, Q.C. Mario D. Bellissimo, LL.B. Barrister & Solicitor Bellissimo Law Group Don Mills, Ontario Toronto, Ontario Certified Specialist Certified Specialist ASSOCIATE EDITOR/REDACTEUR´ ADJOINT Randolph Hahn, D.PHIL.(OXON), LL.B. Guberman, Garson Toronto, Ontario Certified Specialist CARSWELL EDITORIAL STAFF/REDACTION´ DE CARSWELL Cheryl L. McPherson, B.A.(HONS.) Director, Primary Content Operations Directrice des activit´es li´ees au contenu principal Helen Voudouris, B.B.A., LL.B. Acting Product Development Manager Nicole Ross, B.A., LL.B. Jennifer Weinberger, B.A.(HONS.), J.D. Supervisor, Legal Writing Supervisor, Legal Writing Susan Koster, B.A.(HONS.), LL.B. Dionne Brown Chambers, B.A., LL.B. 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ISSN 0835-3808 ISBN 978-0-7798-4669-6 Printed in Canada by Thomson Reuters CARSWELL, A DIVISION OF THOMSON REUTERS CANADA LIMITED One Corporate Plaza Customer Relations 2075 Kennedy Road Toronto 1-416-609-3800 Toronto, Ontario Elsewhere in Canada/U.S. 1-800-387-5164 M1T 3V4 Fax 1-416-298-5082 www.carswell.com Contact www.carswell.com/contact Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) — First Steps 169 Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) — First Steps in an Important Legal Evolution Mario D. Bellissimo, LL.B., C.S.* Joanna Mennie, LL.B.** Introduction The Refugee Protection Division is often referred to as the RAD. RAD is: An abbreviation of “radical” — a term made popular by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Still primarily used by people on the West Coast who find words like “cool”, “awesome”, and “tight” to be tired and overused; “rad” is generally considered to be a much higher praise than the aforementioned superlatives. Also used as a general expression of awe. “Those are some rad shoes.” “Oh, RAD.”1 As the RAD begins to define its jurisdiction and establish its role in the Canadian refugee legal landscape, its goal is not to obtain praise or to be considered cool, but perhaps to develop an “awesome” evolution towards *Mario D. Bellissimo is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and the founder of Bellissimo Law Group in Toronto, Ontario. Mr. Bellissimo is a Certified Spe- cialist in Citizenship and Immigration Law and Refugee Protection. His practice is focused primarily on litigation with an emphasis on immigration inadmissibil- ity. Mr. Bellissimo has appeared before all levels of immigration tribunals and courts including the Supreme Court of Canada. Mr. Bellissimo acts on a pro bono basis as National Immigration Law and Policy Advisor for COSTI Immi- gration Resettlement Services and serves on multiple stakeholder committees as Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s National Immigration Section. Mr. Bel- lissimo is the co-author of Immigration Criminality and Inadmissibility and is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of ImmQuest and the Immigration Law Reporter. **Ms. Mennie is an associate lawyer who began her legal career with Bellissimo Law Group, having completed her articling term with the firm. Ms. Mennie practices primarily in our litigation department and has prepared and represented a number of clients for hearings at the Refugee Protection Division. She has also appeared at the Federal Court of Canada, the Immigration Appeal Division, and Immigration Division. 1online: Urban Dictionary <http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term= rad>. 170 IMMIGRATION LAW REPORTER 25 Imm. L.R. (4th) a robust tribunal that effectively and consistently discharges an important legal function within the larger refugee legal structure. Its transformation from first steps to a mature tribunal will take several years and will, in part, be defined by the Federal Courts and potentially beyond. The core of any debate surrounds understanding the role of the RAD and its appel- late jurisdiction. Citing the remarks of the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C. Chief Justice of Canada:2 I believe that we have reached a new stage in the saga of courts, administrative tribunals and the rule of law.