Robert Willson

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario alleged that the member committed professional misconduct after he pled guilty to criminal mischief for vandalizing a bakery's banner.

The Discipline Committee dismissed the allegations, finding that the criminal offence occurred in the member's private capacity and was not sufficiently relevant to his suitability to practise engineering.

The Committee also found that the member's dismissive responses to the Association's investigator did not constitute professional misconduct, as it was not unreasonable for him to decline substantive comment while his criminal trial was pending.

The moving parties, professional engineers and engineering firms involved in the design and construction of the Nipigon River Bridge, brought a motion to stay disciplinary proceedings against them on the basis of delay.

The Discipline Committee found that the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) was responsible for approximately 36 months of inordinate delay in its investigation.

However, the Committee dismissed the motion, concluding that the moving parties failed to establish significant prejudice that would compromise hearing fairness or amount to an abuse of process.

The Committee further held that the public interest in holding a hearing on the merits regarding the failure of major public infrastructure outweighed any disrepute caused by the delay.

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) brought disciplinary proceedings against the respondent for preparing deficient structural drawings and providing professional engineering services without a valid Certificate of Authorization.

The respondent admitted to the allegations in an Agreed Statement of Facts, acknowledging that the drawings lacked material data, cited an outdated Building Code, and failed to make reasonable provision for the safeguarding of the public.

The Discipline Committee accepted a Joint Submission on Penalty, finding it did not meet the high threshold for rejection established in Anthony-Cook.

The respondent was reprimanded, his licence was suspended for two months, he was fined $2,500, and a restriction was placed on his licence requiring the successful completion of structural engineering examinations.

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) brought disciplinary proceedings against a professional engineer and his engineering firm for professional misconduct related to the structural engineering of a barn.

The member admitted to conducting an inadequate review of design drawings and affirming the structural adequacy of a building that failed to comply with the Ontario Building Code and the National Farm Building Code.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission on Penalty.

The committee found the member and the firm guilty of professional misconduct and ordered a reprimand, a one-month suspension of their licence and Certificate of Authorization, a permanent restriction from providing engineering services for structures governed by the National Farm Building Code, and publication of the decision with names.

The Member faced disciplinary proceedings for professional misconduct related to signing and sealing substandard structural drawings for a greenhouse at a healthcare facility, and for providing engineering services in Ontario without a Certificate of Authorization.

The Member admitted to the allegations in an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, finding that the Member's actions were dishonourable and unprofessional, and posed a risk to the public.

The Committee revoked the Member's licence and ordered summary publication of the decision.

The Discipline Committee determined the penalty for a professional engineer and his company found guilty of professional misconduct for negligently designing a solar tracking device prototype outside his area of competence.

The Committee ordered a reprimand, a one-month licence suspension, a permanent restriction limiting his practice to mechanical engineering, successful completion of the Professional Practice Examination, publication of the decision with names, and $2,000 in costs.

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario alleged that the Member and his firm committed professional misconduct by failing to maintain minimum standards, failing to comply with the Ontario Building Code, and engaging in unprofessional conduct regarding two small-scale residential projects (a stone veneer installation and a deck).

The Discipline Committee dismissed all charges, finding that the Member's brief reports and use of engineering judgment were appropriate for the scale of the projects, did not compromise public safety, and met the standard of a prudent practitioner in the circumstances.

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario alleged that the member and his company committed professional misconduct in the design of a solar tracking device prototype.

The prototype experienced multiple structural failures after installation due to inadequate wind load calculations.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct for negligence, failing to safeguard life and property, undertaking work outside his competence, and unprofessional conduct, noting he was a mechanical engineer with no prior experience designing solar rack structures.

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) brought disciplinary proceedings against a member for providing structural engineering services without a Certificate of Authorization and outside his area of competence.

The member provided deficient structural drawings for a residential renovation that posed grave safety risks.

The member admitted to the allegations in an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct and accepted a Joint Submission on Penalty, ordering a reprimand, a one-month licence suspension, a permanent restriction prohibiting him from practising structural engineering, and publication of the decision.

The member, an electrical engineer, signed and sealed a letter to a municipality certifying that structural work for a solar panel installation had been completed in accordance with engineering drawings.

In fact, the member had not inspected the work, and approximately half of the required attachment plates were missing, creating a potential risk to public safety.

The member admitted to professional misconduct.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a one-month suspension of the member's licence and his company's Certificate of Authorization, publication of the decision, and a requirement that the member pass the Professional Practice Examination.