Complaints and Discipline
Process
Approved by Council June 22, 2001
The Ontario Professional Foresters Association
is accountable to the public for governing the conduct of professional
foresters in Ontario. Its main objective is to regulate the
practice of professional forestry in order that the public interest
may be served and protected. One of the ways the Association
fulfills this objective is to develop and enforce professional ethics
and standards of practice. Individuals must be members of the
Association in order to engage in the practice of professional forestry.
As licensed professionals, members can be disciplined under The
Professional Foresters Act, 2000 for violating
standards of conduct prescribed by the Act, the regulations and by-laws.
Complaints
If you have a concern about a member of the association,
you should first try to speak to the member unless there are reasons
why this would be inappropriate. You should explain why you
are not satisfied and discuss with the member what could be done
to resolve matters. If you need help to do this, Association
staff may be able to provide assistance. Many cases can be
easily resolved in this manner.
If you cannot resolve concerns this way, you have
the right to make a formal complaint to the Association. This
must be done by filling
out a form available for this purpose and sending it to
the Registrar. If you need help filling out the form, contact
Association staff for assistance.
Investigation
Your complaint will be investigated unless it is outside
the responsibility of the Association, or the complaint is minor
and is resolved informally by association staff with your consent
(Alternative
Dispute Resolution Procedures). If your complaint is more
complicated it will be referred to the Complaints Committee.
However, the Committee shall refuse to consider and investigate
complaints if, in its opinion, (a) the complaint does not relate
to professional misconduct, unskilled practice or incapacity on
the part of a member, or (b) the complaint is frivolous, vexatious
or an abuse of process. Otherwise, the Committee will then
write to the member providing the member with the particulars of
the complaint. The member must provide a response which will
be shared with you. If the response does not lead to a resolution,
the Committee will investigate your complaint.
The Committee, in accordance with the information
it receives, may dismiss the complaint, take action it considers
appropriate in the circumstances (which could include offering advice
or a warning to the member, or referring the matter to another committee
of the association for education or skills upgrading) or refer the
matter to the Discipline Committee for a hearing. Generally,
only the most serious cases will be referred to the Discipline Committee.
Proceedings before the Complaints Committee are not
open to the public, and are usually conducted based solely on written
submissions.
Discipline Committee
The Discipline Committee hears and determines allegations
of incapacity, professional misconduct or unskilled practice of
forestry made against members (Discipline
Process). The parties to the hearing, which is open to
the public, are the Association and the member who is the subject
of the complaint. If the Committee finds the member guilty,
it may impose a range of penalties which could include a reprimand,
a fine up to $10,000, a suspension, or a revocation of the member's
certificate of registration.
Confidentiality
The Association will keep you informed of the progress
of your complaint. In order to protect the rights of complainants
and members, and to avoid possible prejudice to the process, the
Association will not comment publicly or otherwise provide information
on a complaint or an investigation unless it is referred to the
Discipline Committee for a public hearing.
For further information on the complaints and discipline
process, please contact the Registrar or visit the Association website
at www.opfa.ca
Ontario Professional Foresters
Association Complaint Form
Approved by Council June 22, 2001
Please answer as many of the questions as you can,
and return the form to the following address:
Complaint Form (pdf file)
The Registrar
Ontario Professional Foresters Association
8000 Yonge Street, Unit 3
Innisfil, Ontario
L9S 1L5
If you have any questions, contact the Registrar
at:
Tel. 705-436-2226
fax 705- 436-1151
e-mail: opfa@opfa.ca
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This page last modified November 06, 2006 |
