DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS … · 2019-08-26 · Discipline Committee...
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IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS OF CANADA REGULATORY COUNCIL CONSEIL DE RÉGLEMENTATION DES CONSULTANTS EN IMMIGRATION DU CANADA Page 1 of 5 DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS OF CANADA REGULATORY COUNCIL Panel: Georges Boissé, Public Representative, Chairperson Deborah Song, Member John Lironi, Member Between: Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council Patricia Harper for Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council And Liza Lucion, R506401 ICCRC File No. CD.2013.936 and CD.2014.216 Andrew Roman for the Panel of the Discipline Committee Date of Hearing: Thursday, April 28, 2016 Date of the Reasons for the Decision: May 10, 2016 _______________________________________________________ Reasons for Decision Introduction The complaint was heard by conference call of a panel of the Discipline Committee of the three members listed above, on April 28, 2016. The panel reviewed and discussed the written submissions of the parties provided to the panel before the hearing. Also attending the conference call were Carla Gelbloom, who recorded the minutes and the panel’s decision and independent legal counsel, Andrew Roman. Ms Harper was available during the call to answer any questions the panel had.
Transcript of DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS … · 2019-08-26 · Discipline Committee...
IMMIGRATIONCONSULTANTSOFCANADAREGULATORYCOUNCILCONSEILDERÉGLEMENTATIONDESCONSULTANTSENIMMIGRATIONDUCANADA
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DISCIPLINECOMMITTEEOFTHEIMMIGRATIONCONSULTANTSOFCANADAREGULATORYCOUNCIL
Panel: GeorgesBoissé,PublicRepresentative,Chairperson
DeborahSong,MemberJohnLironi,Member
Between:ImmigrationConsultantsofCanadaRegulatoryCouncil PatriciaHarperfor ImmigrationConsultantsofCanada RegulatoryCouncilAnd LizaLucion,R506401 ICCRCFileNo.CD.2013.936andCD.2014.216 AndrewRomanforthePanel oftheDisciplineCommitteeDateofHearing:Thursday,April28,2016DateoftheReasonsfortheDecision:May10,2016
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ReasonsforDecisionIntroduction
ThecomplaintwasheardbyconferencecallofapaneloftheDisciplineCommitteeofthethreememberslistedabove,onApril28,2016.Thepanelreviewedanddiscussedthewrittensubmissionsofthepartiesprovidedtothepanelbeforethehearing.AlsoattendingtheconferencecallwereCarlaGelbloom,whorecordedtheminutesandthepanel’sdecisionandindependentlegalcounsel,AndrewRoman.MsHarperwasavailableduringthecalltoansweranyquestionsthepanelhad.
DisciplineCommitteeDecisionandReasons ICCRCFileNo.#CD.2013.936andCD.2014.216
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AgreementoftheFacts
ThePartiessubmittedanagreedstatementofthefacts:
LizaLucion("Ms.Lucion"orthe"Member")isaconsultantregisteredasaMemberwiththeImmigrationConsultantsofCanadaRegulatoryCouncil("ICCRC").
2. AllreferencestotheCodeofProfessionalEthics(the"Code")intheAgreedStatementofFactsandSchedules"B"and"C"aretotheCodeasinforceandeffectasofJune2012andnottotheCodeasupdatedin2016unlessotherwisenoted.
ICCRCFileNo.2013.936
3. TheMemberwasretainedbytheComplainantonoraboutDecember12,2012withrespecttohisapplicationforpermanentresidence(the“Application”).
AllegationofMisrepresentationreLMO
4. TheComplainantallegesthatMs.LucionrepresentedtotheComplainantthataLabourMarketOpinion(“LMO”)wouldbeobtainedwith4months.
5. AsofDecember,2013,afullyearafterhavingenteredtheRetainerAgreement,theLMOhadnotbeenobtained.
6. The ICCRC withdraws the allegation made under Article 4.1 of the Code, Maintain Integrity,whichrelatetotheallegedLMOrepresentation.
7. In withdrawing the allegation under Article 4.1 of the Code, the ICCRC acknowledges thatwhetherornotMs.LucionrepresentedthatshewouldbeabletoobtainanLMOfortheComplainantwithinadefinedperiodoftimecannotbeestablisheddefinitivelybytheevidence.
AllegationreFailuretoRegisteranAgent
8. Ms.LucionenteredintoanagreementwithanacquaintanceoftheComplainant,toactastheMember'sagentforthepurposeoftheApplication.AspartoftheagreementbetweenMs.Lucionandtheacquaintance,theacquaintancewasentitledtoreceive25%ofthefeespaidbytheComplainant.
9. At no time was the acquaintance an employee of Ms. Lucion, nor was he registered as heragent.
10. TheICCRCacknowledgesthattheacquaintanceactedasMs.Lucion’sagentonlywithrespecttothe Complainant’s Application and that Ms. Lucion and the acquaintance do not have an ongoingconsultant/agentarrangement.
DisciplineCommitteeDecisionandReasons ICCRCFileNo.#CD.2013.936andCD.2014.216
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11. TheMemberacknowledgesshebreachedArticle6.4theCode,RegistrationofAgents,byusingtheacquaintanceasanunregisteredagent.
ICCRCFileNo.CD.2014.216
12. InoraroundApril2013theComplainantretainedMs.LucionwithrespecttothesponsorshipoftheComplainant’sbrotherundertheFamilySponsorshipProgram(“Application”).
AllegationsreFailuretoProvideaRetainerAgreement
13. Ms.Lucionacknowledgesthatshemustenterintoretaineragreementswithallclientsandthatshedidnotdosointhiscase.
14. SubsequenttobeingretainedbytheComplainant,Ms.Lucionwasthesubjectofacomplianceaudit. Asa resultof thatcomplianceaudit,Ms.Lucionwasrequiredtomakechanges toher retaineragreementtemplate.Ms.Lucionhasmadethosechanges.PleasefindattachedasAppendix"1"totheAgreedStatementofFactsthecurrentRetainerTemplateusedbyMs.Lucion.
15. The ICCRC acknowledges that recent changes to the Codeof Ethics have removed infractionswith respect to retainers from the Code of Ethics and in the future technical infractions related toretainerswillbeaddressedbyregulation.
16. TakingintoconsiderationthestepsMs.LucionhastakentoimproveherRetainerTemplateandthe recent change to the Code of Ethics, and for the purpose of reaching agreement between theParties,theICCRCwithdrawstheallegationswithrespecttoArticle12oftheCode.
AllegationsreLackofCommunicationwithClient
17. The Member did communicate with the Complainant and answer client requests, but theMemberacknowledgesthatsheshouldhaverespondedtoclientemails inamoretimelymannerandshouldhaveprovidedtheComplainantwithgreaterdetailsregardingthestatusoftheApplication.
18. As set out at Paragraph 1(b)(v) of the Notice of Referral, the Complainant alleged that Ms.Luciondidnotrespondtoanyemailssentin2014.Ms.Lucionhasproducedemailevidencethatshedidinfactrespondtoclientemailsin2014.
19. TheMemberacknowledgesthatbyfailingtocommunicatewiththeComplainantinatimelyanddetailed manner she breached Articles 6.1.3, Communication with Client, and Article 6.1.4, AnswerReasonableClientRequests,oftheCode.
20. The ICCRC withdraws the allegation under Article 6.1.1, Meet All Applicable Deadlines, andArticle6.1.2,ConductClientAffairsinanEfficientandCostEffectiveManner.
AdditionalConsiderations
DisciplineCommitteeDecisionandReasons ICCRCFileNo.#CD.2013.936andCD.2014.216
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21. The Member has demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with the ICCRC throughout theComplaintsandDisciplineProcess.
22. TheMemberacknowledgesthattheComplaintssetoutinbothICCRCFileNo.CD.2013.936andFileNo.CD.2014.216demonstratesaneedforimprovedclientcommunicationskills.
JointSubmissiononPenalty
InadditiontotheAgreedStatementofFacts,thePartiesjointlysubmittedanagreedrecommendationonapenalty:
1. (a)NolaterthanSeptember1st,2016Ms.Lucionshalltakeaminimumof5hoursofContinuing ProfessionalDevelopment("CPD")onthetopicofclientcommunication;
(b)TheCPDnotedatparagraph(a)aboveshallbeinadditiontothe16hoursofannualrequired CPD.ItistheresponsibilityofMs.Luciontofind,registerfor,andcompleteCPDinfulfillmentof paragraph(a)above.Ms.LucionmaynotcounthoursspenttakingamandatoryPractice ManagementEducationcoursetowardthefulfillmentoftherequirementatparagraph(a) above;
(c)Ms.LucionwillprovidetheICCRCRegistrarwithasworn/affirmeddeclarationthatshehas completedtheProfessionalDevelopmentrequirementnotedatparagraph(a)abovenolater thanSeptember6,2016;
(d)AreprimandintheformsetoutintheattachedSchedule"C"shallbeplacedinthe Member'sICCRCFileforaperiodof2yearsfromthedateoftheDisciplineCommittee'sOrder;
2. ThisOrdershallbepublishedontheICCRCWebsite;
(a)TheOrdershallbetransferredfromtheRecentorCurrentDecisionssectionoftheICCRC WebsitetotheArchivedDecisionssectionoftheICCRCWebsiteonreceiptofthe sworn/affirmeddeclarationnotedatparagraph2(c)above.
(b)OntransfertotheArchivedDecisionssectionoftheWebsite,theMember'snameand registrationnumbershallberedacted.
Decision
Aftercarefullyreviewingthewrittensubmissionsoftheparties,thepanelunanimouslyapprovedtheJointSubmissiononPenalty.Thepanelfoundthattheproposedpenaltyadequatelyaddressedtheneedforageneraldeterrencetotheentiremembership,aswellasaspecificdeterrencetotheMember.Thepaneldecidedthattheproposedpenaltyisreasonableandinthepublicinterest.Thepanelcommendedthepartiesforreachinganagreementonboththefactsandtheproposedpenalty.
DisciplineCommitteeDecisionandReasons ICCRCFileNo.#CD.2013.936andCD.2014.216
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ThepaneldirectsICCRC’sComplaintsandProfessionalStandardsAdministratortoinserteachofourelectronicsignaturesinthesignaturelinesattheendoftheseReasonsforDecision.
ICCRCDisciplineCommitteePanelMembers:
_______________________________
GeorgesBoissé,PublicRepresentative,Chairperson
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DeborahSong,Member
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JohnLironi,Member
