Download - DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS … · 2019-08-26 · Discipline Committee Decision and Reasons ICCRC File No.#CD.2013.936 and CD.2014.216 IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS

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.



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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



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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.



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ThepaneldirectsICCRC’sComplaintsandProfessionalStandardsAdministratortoinserteachofourelectronicsignaturesinthesignaturelinesattheendoftheseReasonsforDecision.

ICCRCDisciplineCommitteePanelMembers:

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GeorgesBoissé,PublicRepresentative,Chairperson

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DeborahSong,Member

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JohnLironi,Member