Referral to the Investigating Committee
A complaint is referred to the Investigating Committee by the Counsellor, Professional Practice when:

• there is reason to believe that the Member knowingly violated an ethical rule or comment or matter that would not be appropriate for a Practice Sanction;
• there is reason to believe the Member has knowingly provided misleading information to the Institute;
• there is reason to believe that the Member has engaged in fraudulent conduct;
• there is reason to believe that the Member is grossly incompetent or incorrigible as indicated by a history of prior complaints within the last five (5) year period, when considered in conjunction with the current Complaint;
• the issues surrounding the complaint are technically complex requiring review and interpretation by an expert investigator;
• there is a conflict of interest declared by the Counsellor, Professional Practice.

Role of the Investigating Committee
Investigators on this committee are given the task of reviewing the complaint and the appraisal report in depth. This is usually a line by line examination of the report to insure that adherence to all Standard and Ethic Rules is achieved within the report.

If the report does not adhere to a Standard or Ethic Rule, the Investigator will make note of it in an expert report that is prepared to present to the Chair of the Investigating Committee for review.
The Investigator prepares this expert report and presents his/her findings to the Chair of the Investigating Committee.

Chair, Investigating Committee
After reviewing the Investigator’s report, the Chair may take any of the following actions:

• provide the Member with an outline of the findings and any Practice Sanction that the Chair, Investigating Committee intends to impose on consent, and invite the Member to respond within thirty (30) days
• dismiss the complaint
• direct one or more Practice Sanction on consent
• direct abeyance of implementation of Sanctions;
• issue direction as to cost recovery pursuant to Section 5.47.
• refer the complaint to the Professional Practice Advocate

Last updated January 30, 2009