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Ontario College of Trades > Complaints and Discipline

The Ontario College of Trades has a duty to protect the public. To meet that duty the College has a complaints and discipline function to respond to complaints about members of the College. The purpose of this is to ensure that our members are maintaining industry standards and to protect the public from those who do not.

The College investigates allegations of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity made against its members. Only members of the College are subject to the College’s complaints, discipline and fitness to practise function.

  • About public interest

    The College is accountable to members of the public, like you.

    The College was established to regulate and govern its own members in the public interest.

    Journeypersons working in the College’s 23 compulsory trades and all apprentices (in either compulsory or voluntary trades) must be members of the Ontario College of Trades and must comply with the College’s standards of professional conduct.

    Skilled tradespeople who work in voluntary trades are not required to become members of the College, but if they do, they are subject to the same professional standards as those in the compulsory trades and apprentices.

    Membership in the College signals that a skilled tradesperson has taken the time and effort to meet the College’s standards and is subject to the College’s regulatory processes, including complaints and possible discipline, all of which helps strengthen the skilled trades in Ontario and protects the public interest.

    • About professional misconduct, incompetence and incapacity

      Professional Misconduct

      A member may be guilty of Professional Misconduct by:

      • Failing to take reasonable steps to safeguard the life, health or property of a person who may be affected by the work of a member or any person for whom the member is responsible, when the member knows or ought to know that there was a risk to life, health or property.
      • Failing to act to correct or report a situation that the member knows or ought to know may endanger the safety or welfare of the public.
      • Undertaking work that the member knows or ought to know the member is not competent to perform by virtue of their certification, training and experience or the member’s employees are not competent to perform by virtue of their certification, training and experience.
      • Knowingly providing false information or documents to the College or any other person with respect to a member’s trade qualifications.
      • Contravening a term, condition or limitation imposed on the member’s certificate of qualification or statement of membership.
      • Permitting, counselling or assisting any person who is not a member of the College to represent themself as a member of the College.
      • Failing to provide the member’s name and registration number as set out in the register, in the course of providing or offering to provide services related to their practice of a trade or in the course of employment or sponsorship of a member.
      • Signing or issuing, in the member’s capacity as a member of the College, a document that the member knows or ought to know contains a false, improper or misleading statement.
      • Being found guilty of contravening a law if the contravention is relevant to the member’s suitability to hold a certificate of qualification or statement of membership.
      • Failing to maintain the standards of a trade.
      • Acting or failing to act, in respect to the practice of a trade, in a manner that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.
      • Misappropriating or otherwise dealing dishonestly with the money or property of a client or another party, or otherwise engaging in fraudulent conduct.
      • Permitting, counselling, assisting, instructing or directing a member of the College to engage in any act or omission despite having reasonable grounds to believe that the act or omission constitutes professional misconduct.

      A member may also be guilty of professional misconduct by: contravening the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009, the regulations under this Act, or the College’s By-laws; or, contravening an order of the Discipline Committee, the Complaints Committee, the Board, or the Registrar.

      Incompetence
      Incompetence is a lack of knowledge, skill or judgment in a member’s professional responsibilities; or a disregard for a person’s welfare.

      Incapacity

      Incapacity is a physical or mental condition that makes a member unfit to fulfill his/her professional responsibilities; or a physical or mental condition that limits a member’s ability to fulfill his/her professional responsibilities.

    • About the Complaints, Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committees

      A written complaint that meets the requirements of section 28 of the General By-law will be sent to the Complaints Committee for consideration. At this stage the Member who is the subject of the complaint will also have been notified and provided an opportunity to provide a response. The Complaints Committee is a screening body that assesses whether or not a complaint relates to professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, but cannot impose discipline or order preventative remedies the way the Discipline and Fitness to Practise committees can, respectively.

      Complaints Committee

      The Complaints Committee shall consider and investigate written complaints made by any person regarding the conduct or actions of members of the College, provided that the complaint relates to allegations of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity and is not frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process. The Complaints Committee can:

      • refer a complaint to the Discipline Committee (if it involves allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence);
      • refer a complaint to the Fitness to Practise Committee (if it involves allegations of incapacity);
      • close a complaint because it does not relate to professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity;
      • close a complaint because it is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process;
      • require the member to appear in-person for an oral caution;
      • issue a written caution or warning letter to the member;
      • refer the matter for alternative dispute resolution; or
      • take any other action it considers appropriate that is consistent with the College’s legislation, regulations and By-laws.

      Discipline Committee

      The Discipline Committee holds formal, public hearings dealing with allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence made against members of the College. The Discipline Committee shall:

      • Hear and determine matters directed or referred to it;
      • Perform any other duties assigned to it by the Board.

      If the Discipline Committee finds a member guilty of professional misconduct, the panel can:

      1. Revoke the member’s certificate of qualification or statement of membership.
      2. Suspend the member’s certificate of qualification or statement of membership for up to 24 months.
      3. Impose specified terms, conditions or limitations on the member’s certificate of qualification or statement of membership.
      4. Reprimand, admonish or counsel the member;
      5. Impose a fine up to $2,000;
      6. Direct that the panel’s orders be published; and
      7. Order the member to pay the costs of the hearing.

      Fitness to Practise Committee

      The Fitness to Practise Committee holds formal hearings that are closed to the public, including other members of the College, to consider allegations of incapacity on the part of a member. These hearings are closed due to the sensitive and confidential nature of the allegations and evidence presented.

      If the Fitness to Practise Committee finds a member to be unfit to carry out his/her professional responsibilities due to a physical or mental condition or disorder, the panel can:

      1. Revoke the member’s certificate of qualification or statement of membership.
      2. Suspend the member’s certificate of qualification or statement of membership for up to 24 months.
      3. Impose specified terms, conditions or limitations on the member’s certificate of qualification or statement of membership.

    • How to make a complaint about a member of the College

      To make a complaint, please complete the Complaints Form (PDF) and send it to the College by mail, fax, email or by calling the Complaints Line:

      Ontario College of Trades
      Attention: Complaints Intake Office
      655 Bay Street, Suite 600
      Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2K4

      Phone: 647-847-3000
      Toll-free: 855-299-0028
      Fax: 647-347-7777
      Email: complaints@collegeoftrades.ca

    • Current Cases

      Information about scheduled hearings is updated as it becomes available. Please check the schedule regularly for changes, as hearings may be rescheduled on short notice.

      Member Member # Trade File No. Hearing Documents Hearing Date(s) & Venue*
      Luciano Pannunzio 13244626 Sheet Metal Worker & Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic DC201709 Notice of Hearing (PDF) August 16, 2018
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim, 222 Bay St., Suite 900, Toronto, ON
      Douglas George Howard 13823555 Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer (310B) DC201802 Notice of Hearing (PDF) January 21, 2019
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim, 222 Bay St., Suite 900, Toronto, ON
      Hutton Pearce 13244095 Plumber (306A) DC201803 Notice of Hearing (PDF) TBD
      Aaron Di Benedetto 13253334 Truck and Coach Technician (310T) DC201806 Notice of Hearing (PDF) TBD
      Sokly Saing 13911917 Electrician – Construction and Maintenance (309A) DC201807 Notice of Hearing (PDF) TBD
      Hamid Sultan 13343765 Automotive Service Technician (310S) DC201808 Notice of Hearing (PDF) TBD
      Lee Demelo 13209296 Electrician – Construction and Maintenance (309A) DC201809 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)      		 October 18, 2018
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim, 222 Bay St., Suite 900, Toronto, ON

      * Please check the schedule regularly for changes, as hearings may be rescheduled on short notice. Seating is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

    • Completed Cases

      Member Member # Trade File No. Hearing Documents Hearing Date(s) & Venue*
      Butt, Sajjad 13241812 Automotive Service Technician DC201601 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Order Costs (PDF)
      Decision and Reasons (PDF)      		 Sept. 13 & 14, 2016
      11:30 a.m. (each day)Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Tardy, Daniel T. 13226399 Plumber, Steamfitter DC201602 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decision (PDF)      		 Oct. 25, 2016
      1:00 p.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Bansal, Jatinder 13258794 Automotive Service Technician DC201603 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decision(PDF)      		 Feb. 8, 2017
      11:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Halling, Eric 13213947 Electrician – Construction and Maintenance DC201604 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decision (PDF)      		 Apr. 4, 2017
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Reaume, Ron F. 13179203 Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic, Sheet Metal Worker DC201702 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decision (PDF)      		 Jul. 17, 2017
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Paquette, Christopher A. 13252637 Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer DC201703 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decision (PDF)      		 Oct. 13, 2017
      3:00 p.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Osman, Walid 13843925 Automotive Service Technician and Truck and Coach Technician DC201708 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Notice of Motion (PDF)
      Order (PDF)      		 Oct. 13, 2017
      2:30 p.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Mikyas, Huseyin 13332805 Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer DC201701 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decision (PDF)      		 Oct. 23, 2017
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Priddle, Lindsay 13271632 Hairstylist DC201705 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decision (PDF)      		 Nov. 13, 2017
      11:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Beckford, Junior 13237315 Automotive Service Technician and Truck and Coach Technician DC201706 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decision (PDF)      		 Nov. 14, 2017
      11:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay St.,
      Suite 900,
      Toronto, ON
      Heitto, Ron E. 13106333 Automotive Service Technician and Truck and Coach Technician DC201707 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decisions (PDF)      		 February 13, 2018
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay Street,
      Suite 900
      Toronto, ON
      Trevor Cleary 13838914 Electrician – Construction and Maintenance (309A) DC201801 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decisions (PDF)      		 May 24, 2018
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim,
      222 Bay Street,
      Suite 900
      Toronto, ON
      Jaswinder Singh 13254310 Truck and Coach Technician (310T) DC201804 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decisions (PDF)      		 August 9, 2018
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim, 222 Bay St., Suite 900, Toronto, ON
      Peter Plummer 13301453 Electrician – Construction and Maintenance (309A) DC201805 Notice of Hearing (PDF)
      Order (PDF)
      Reasons for Decisions (PDF)      		 November 16, 2018
      10:00 a.m.
      Victory Verbatim, 222 Bay St., Suite 900, Toronto, ON

     

     

    Quick Links

    Rules of Procedure (PDF)

    College General By-law

    Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009

    Professional Misconduct (Ontario Regulation 97/13)

     

     



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