PEO 2021

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) brought a discipline proceeding against a professional engineer and his firm regarding the design and permitting of a replacement residential sewage system.

The respondents admitted to professional misconduct for failing to complete contracted services, failing to submit permit applications in a timely manner, failing to adequately explain requirements to the client, and falsely advising the client that applications had been submitted.

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

The respondents were reprimanded, the engineer was ordered to successfully complete the National Professional Practice Examination within 14 months, and the findings were ordered to be published.

Following a finding of professional misconduct for preparing inadequate design drawings for a retaining wall and failing to cooperate with the investigation, the Discipline Committee held a penalty hearing.

The member and his firm failed to attend.

The Committee found the member ungovernable due to serious technical failings, an uncaring attitude, and a complete lack of cooperation or remorse.

The Committee ordered the revocation of the member's licence and the firm's Certificate of Authorization, directed publication of a summary of the decision with names, and ordered the respondents to pay $25,000 in costs.

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 faced allegations of professional misconduct for signing and sealing an inadequate structural review for a railing system and providing engineering services without a Certificate of Authorization.

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

A joint submission on penalty proposed a reprimand, a 7-day suspension, and a requirement to pass examinations, failing which a 10-month suspension would be imposed.

Independent Legal Counsel advised that the contingent future suspension was unlawful.

The Discipline Committee rejected this advice, finding it had jurisdiction under section 28(4)(d) of the Professional Engineers Act to impose the contingent suspension as a condition on the Member's licence.

The joint submission on penalty was accepted.

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against a member and a certificate of authorization holder for professional misconduct.

The member admitted to preparing deficient mechanical and electrical drawings for a building permit application, practicing outside his area of competence, and fraudulently applying another engineer's signature and seal to the drawings without consent.

The Discipline Committee accepted the agreed statement of facts and joint submission on penalty, finding the respondents guilty of professional misconduct.

The panel ordered a reprimand, a four-month suspension, a requirement for the member to complete the Professional Practice Examination, and a restriction prohibiting the respondents from practicing electrical or mechanical engineering.

The member, a professional engineer, faced allegations of professional misconduct related to inappropriate and disparaging comments made during a PEO Council election campaign.

The member admitted to the allegations and agreed to a statement of facts.

The Discipline Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, ordering an oral reprimand to be recorded on the register for six months and publication of the findings without the member's name, noting the member's cooperation, lack of prior disciplinary history, and personal health challenges as mitigating factors.

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, a limited licence holder, faced allegations of professional misconduct for making disparaging remarks, using obscene gestures, and filing vexatious complaints against other professionals.

The Member admitted to the allegations in an Agreed Statement of Facts, acknowledging his conduct was disgraceful, dishonourable, unprofessional, and constituted harassment.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a three-month licence suspension, publication of the decision with names, and a requirement to complete the National Professional Practice Examination.

The member faced allegations of professional misconduct for offering engineering services to the public without a valid certificate of authorization and failing to cooperate with the Association's remedial requests.

The member admitted to the facts and pled guilty to the allegations.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, publication of the decision, and $2,000 in costs.

The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against a professional engineer and his firm for preparing inadequate design drawings for a retaining wall and failing to cooperate with the subsequent investigation.

The retaining wall, designed using a dead man system, failed shortly after construction, causing property damage and safety concerns.

The Discipline Committee found the respondents guilty of professional misconduct, concluding they were negligent, failed to safeguard property, failed to comply with applicable codes, and acted unprofessionally by ignoring the investigator's inquiries.