Discipline Hearing

A Discipline Hearing is a formal hearing before a Discipline Hearing Panel to determine whether the charges stated in the Citation are warranted against the Respondent. A Discipline Hearing Panel is comprised of at least three members of the Discipline Committee, including at least one Lay (public) Committee Member from the Discipline Committee.

Discipline Hearings are open to the public and typically proceed in two stages, the liability stage and the penalty stage.  During the liability stage, the AIBC and the Respondent are given an opportunity to make arguments on whether allegations against the Respondent are proven, present evidence and call and cross-examine witnesses. Both parties may also be represented by legal counsel at their own expense. Note that although the Complainant is not a party in a Discipline Hearing, the Complainant may be called as a witness to give evidence.

At the end of the hearing, the Discipline Hearing Panel makes a decision as to whether the charges have been proven or should be dismissed, and issues written reasons for its decision.

If the Discipline Hearing Panel finds that charges have been proven against the Respondent, the Discipline Hearing moves to the penalty stage, in which the Discipline Hearing Panel hears submissions from both parties regarding the appropriate penalty. Penalties vary depending on the circumstances of the case and can include, but are not limited to, a reprimand, a fine, conditions imposed on a certificate of practice, suspension from practice, or cancellation of registration.

Decisions of a Discipline Hearing Panel may be appealed to the B.C. Supreme Court within 30 days of the ruling.

A Discipline Hearing Panel does not have the authority to grant compensation to a Complainant, even where a finding of Professional Misconduct, Conduct Unbecoming a Registrant or incompetence has been made against a Respondent. The remedies available to the Discipline Hearing Panel are prescribed by the Professional Governance Act (PGA) and are different from the options available in lawsuits brought through the courts.

A Discipline Hearing Panel may order the Respondent or the AIBC to pay Costs in accordance with AIBC Bylaw 7.44 and Schedule S: Costs Administrative Guidelines. The amount of Costs associated with a Discipline Hearing, which includes legal costs, is significantly higher than the Costs payable under the options offered through the complaint resolution process.

Additional information about Discipline Hearings can be found in Section 75 of the PGA and the AIBC Bylaws 7.31 to 7.38 and Schedule R: Council Rules for Discipline Hearing Practice and Procedure to the AIBC Bylaws.

Discipline Hearings

Below is the schedule of upcoming disciplinary hearings. All inquiries are open to the public and those interested in attending are asked to confirm their attendance in advance via email to confirm the time and location of the hearing. Please note some hearings may be conducted exclusively online; virtual attendance information, including how to join the online hearing, will be sent directly to individuals.

Current Disciplinary Decisions

View all disciplinary decisions on the Disciplinary Decisions webpage.

AIBC Contact

For additional information on the AIBC’s complaints, investigation and discipline process, please contact professionalconduct@aibc.ca.