Kathleen Robichaud

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario brought professional misconduct allegations against a member and a Certificate of Authorization holder for issuing deficient structural drawings that failed to properly account for snow loads.

The respondents admitted to the allegations, acknowledging the designs failed to meet the standard of a reasonable and prudent practitioner and did not comply with the Ontario Building Code.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission to revoke the member's licence and publish his name.

For the holder, the Committee ordered a reprimand to be recorded on the register for one year and publication of its name, noting its extensive cooperation and remediation efforts.

The member and his firm faced professional discipline for signing and sealing deficient shop drawings and calculations for structural support beams, and for undertaking structural engineering work outside their competence.

The member admitted to the allegations of professional misconduct.

The Discipline Committee accepted the admission and found the member guilty.

In determining the penalty, the Committee considered the member's cooperation, out-of-pocket remediation of the errors, and changes to his practice.

The Committee ordered a reprimand, a restriction prohibiting the member from practicing structural engineering (with limited exceptions for platforms), and a limited practice review, but declined to impose a licence suspension.