New Chairperson appointed to the Social Security Tribunal

GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development has announced the appointment of Mr. Paul Aterman as the new Chairperson of the Social Security Tribunal of Canada, following an open, transparent and merit-based selection process. 

Mr. Aterman brings extensive experience in the administration of social justice, in both federal and provincial tribunals and in the operations of adjudicative systems. Most recently, he held dual positions of Deputy Chairperson of the Immigration Appeal Division and Acting Deputy Chairperson of the Refugee Appeal Division at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).  Prior to these IRB appointments, he was Vice-Chair with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and worked as Director General, Strategic Policy and Research in the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat of the Privy Council Office.

The experience Mr. Aterman brings will be strong assets in the renewal of the Social Security Tribunal.  

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Acting Chairperson of the Social Security Tribunal, Mr. Guy Giguère, for his leadership over the last several months.

Quotes

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Aterman as the new Chairperson of the Social Security Tribunal of Canada.  Mr. Aterman is a seasoned leader and decision-maker in administrative tribunals and will play a pivotal role in the continued renewal to the recourse process to ensure the delivery of client-centric, timely and fair outcomes for Canadians."
? The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

"I look forward to working collaboratively with partners to develop and implement a comprehensive action plan for the renewal of the Social Security Tribunal. At the heart of that renewal is the delivery of justice that is simple, quick and fair.  The principles of service excellence, accountability and transparency will drive the changes we need to make."
? Paul Aterman, Chairperson of the Social Security Tribunal of Canada

Quick Facts

• The Social Security Tribunal began its operations on April 1, 2013.
• The Social Security Tribunal is made up of two levels of appeal. The first level is the General Division, which contains an Employment Insurance Section and an Income Security Section for Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan/Old Age Security appeals, respectively. The second level is the Appeal Division.
• Full-time members are appointed for terms up to five years and part-time members for up to two years.
• The Government of Canada is developing a comprehensive action plan to improve the recourse processes by making it client-centric, faster and simpler.

Associated Links

• Social Security Tribunal of Canada
• Governor in Council Appointments
• Statement by the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development on the Social Security Tribunal Review
• Prime Minister announces new Governor in Council appointment process
• Social Security Tribunal mandate letter

Follow us on Twitter

Backgrounder

Paul Aterman

Paul Aterman is a seasoned lawyer with extensive administrative law experience in the fields of human rights, immigration and refugee matters and workers' compensation. Since leaving private practice in 1994, Mr. Aterman has held increasingly senior positions at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), most recently, holding the dual positions of Deputy Chairperson of the Immigration Appeal Board and Acting Deputy Chairperson of the Refugee Appeal Division. For three decades, Mr. Aterman has demonstrated his ongoing commitment to the law, adjudication, mediation and the appeal process.

Mr. Aterman holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oxford University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto.

Mr. Aterman has been appointed as Chairperson of the Social Security Tribunal of Canada for a term of 5 years, effective September 17, 2018.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada