It is the responsibility of the Investigation Committee to investigate the complaint, determine whether sufficient evidence exists to lay a charge and refer a complaint to the Discipline Committee to proceed to a discipline hearing.
Individuals or corporate entities registered and/or licensed with APEGS are required to comply with The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, regulatory bylaws and administrative bylaws. This includes engineers-in-training, geoscientists-in-training, professional engineers, professional geoscientists, engineering licensees, geoscience licensees and temporary licensees.
As part of its regulatory obligations, APEGS is required to investigate allegations of professional incompetence and professional misconduct in accordance with the Act.
Persons that believe that an engineer’s or geoscientist’s conduct constitutes professional incompetence or professional misconduct may make a complaint to APEGS. All complaints must relate to professional misconduct or professional incompetence as these are only matters that APEGS may investigate, as APEGS is not a substitute for the civil courts.
Complaints are managed through investigation and discipline processes as defined in the Act. The investigation process starts when APEGS receives a written complaint or when APEGS council requests consideration of a complaint.
It is the responsibility of the Investigation Committee to investigate the complaint, determine whether sufficient evidence exists to lay a charge and refer a complaint to the Discipline Committee to proceed to a discipline hearing.
If the Discipline Committee hears a complaint it may determine a finding of professional incompetence or professional misconduct and apply the appropriate order (penalty).
When the Investigation Committee believes the person under investigation may be guilty of a criminal offence, the committee may discontinue its investigation and will report its findings to the APEGS president and the Deputy Minister of Justice. A similar obligation exists for the Discipline Committee at the conclusion of a hearing.
For more information on the investigation and discipline process or on submitting a written complaint, go to www.apegs.ca under Complaints & Discipline.