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DISCIPLINECOMMITTEEOFTHEIMMIGRATIONCONSULTANTSOFCANADAREGULATORYCOUNCIL
Panel: GeorgesBoissé,PublicRepresentative,Chairperson
JamesKwaateng,MemberBrianGushulak,PublicRepresentative
Between:ImmigrationConsultantsofCanadaRegulatoryCouncil RossMorrisonfor ImmigrationConsultantsofCanada RegulatoryCouncilAnd ChristinaCamarce,R507796 John-PaulRodriques,counselfor ICCRCFileNo.CD.2014.163 theMember AndrewRomanforthePanel oftheDisciplineCommitteeDateofHearing:Thursday,April28,2016DateoftheReasonsfortheDecision:May10,2016
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ReasonsforDecisionIntroduction
ThecomplaintwasheardbyconferencecallofapaneloftheDisciplineCommitteeofthethreememberslistedabove,onApril28,2016.Thepanelreviewedanddiscussedthewrittensubmissionsofthepartiesprovidedtothepanelbeforethehearing.AlsoattendingtheconferencecallwereCarlaGelbloom,whorecordedtheminutesandthepanel’sdecisionandindependentlegalcounsel,AndrewRoman.Mr.Morrisonwasavailableduringthecalltoansweranyquestionsthepanelhad.
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NoticeofReferralandMinutesofSettlement
ThepaneloftheDisciplineCommitteewasprovidedwithacopyoftheNoticeofReferralwhichsetsoutthefollowingallegations.ThelegalcounselforpartiesconfirmedintheMinutesofSettlementthattheyagreethattheallegationsintheNoticeofReferralaresubstantiallycorrect.TheRespondentacknowledgesandagreesthatsheforgottoapplyforandtoobtainafurtherextensionofthevisitor’svisafortheComplainant’sspouse,asallegedinparagraph1(b)(v)oftheNoticeofReferral.
TheMemberbreachedherobligationswithrespecttoservinghonorably,maintainingqualityserviceandadvisingclients.
(a) ApplicableArticle(s)oftheCodeofProfessionalEthics:
(i) Article3.1–ServeHonorably;
(ii) Article6.1–MaintenanceofQualityService;
(iii) 6.1.1–Meetallapplicabledeadlines;
(iv) 6.1.2–ConductClientaffairsinanefficient,cost-effectivemanner;
(v) 6.1.3–CommunicatewiththeClientatallstagesofamatterinatimelyandeffectiveway;
(vi) 6.1.5–AnswerreasonableClientrequestsinatimelyandeffectivemanner;
(vii) Article7.1–HonestyandCandorRequired;
(viii) Article18.2–RequiredActionuponDiscoveryofErrororOmission;
(ix) 18.2.2–SeekadvicefromtheICCRC’sPracticeManagementUnitwhereneeded;
(x) 18.2.3–RecommendthattheClientobtainlegaladviceelsewhereconcerninganyrightsthe Clientmayhavearisingfromtheerrororomission;
(xi) 18.2.4–AdvisetheClientthatinthecircumstances,theICCRCmembermayno longerbeable toactfortheClient;
(xii) 18.2.5–Promptlyinformhisorhererrorsandomissionsinsuranceprovider;
(xiii) 18.2.6–PromptlyinformICCRCthattheerrorsandomissionsinsuranceproviderhasbeen informed.
(b) ParticularsoftheAllegation(s)
(i) InoraboutJune,2012theComplainantretainedChristinaCamarce(the“Member”)toprepare andfiletheComplainant’sapplicationtosponsorhisspouseunderthe SponsorshipofSpouse inCanada.
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(ii) TheComplainantalsoretainedtheMembertoprepareandfileavisaextensionapplicationfor theComplainant’sspouse.
(iii) InJuly,2012theMemberappliedforandobtainedanextensionofthevisitor’svisaforthe Complainant’sSpouse.ThevisaextensionexpiredonDecember31,2012.
(iv) TheMemberadvisedtheComplainantthathisspousewouldrequireafurtherextensionofthe visitor’svisa.
(v) TheMemberforgottoapplyforandtoobtainafurtherextensionofthevisitor’svisafor theComplainant’s.
(vi) InApril,2013theMembermetwiththeComplainantandhisspouseandinformedthemofher errorinfailingtoobtainafurtherextensionofthespouse’svisitor’svisaandinfailingtoapply forspousalsponsorship.
(vii) TheMemberadvisedtheComplainantthatbecauseitwastoolatetorestorethevisitor’svisa status,theMemberwouldsubmitanApplicationforTemporaryResidentPermitwhichthe MemberdidinAugust,2013.
(viii) TheMemberdidnotsubmittheComplainant’sapplicationtosponsorhisspouseinCanada becausetheMemberwaswaitingfortheresultoftheApplicationforTemporaryResident Permit.
(ix) TheMemberfailedtoseekadvicefromtheICCRC’sPracticeManagementUnit.
(x) TheMemberfailedtorecommendtotheComplainantthattheComplainantobtainlegaladvice elsewhereconcerninganyrightstheComplainantmayhavearisingfromtheerrororomission.
(xi) TheMemberfailedtoadvisetheComplainantthatinthecircumstances,theMembermightno longerbeabletoactfortheComplainant.
(xii) TheMemberfailedtopromptlyinformhererrorsandomissionsinsuranceproviderofthe Member’serror.
(xiii) TheMemberfailedtoinformICCRCthathererrorsandomissionsinsuranceproviderhadbeen informed(whichithadnot).
(xiv) TheComplainantfiledacomplaintagainsttheMemberwithICCRCinoraboutApril,2014.
IntheMinutesofSettlementthepartiesjointlyagreeandsubmitthatthepenaltytobeimposedbytheDisciplineCommitteeontheRespondentChristinaCamarce(“Camarce”)isasfollows:(a) Areprimand;
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(b) TheMemberwillbesuspendedfrompracticeforaperiodofonemonth,commencingJune1, 2016;
(c) TheentireperiodofsuspensionofonemonthwillbewaivedbecausetheMemberhas completedtheICCRCPracticeManagementEducation(“PME”)courseonEthicalPractice.
Decision
Aftercarefullyreviewingthewrittensubmissionsoftheparties,thepanelunanimouslyapprovedtheJointSubmissiononPenalty.Thepanelfoundthattheproposedpenaltyadequatelyaddressedtheneedforageneraldeterrencetotheentiremembership,aswellasaspecificdeterrencetotheMember.Thepaneldecidedthattheproposedpenaltyisreasonableandinthepublicinterest.Thepanelcommendedthepartiesforreachinganagreementonboththefactsandtheproposedpenalty.ThepaneldirectsICCRC’sComplaintsandProfessionalStandardsAdministratortoinserteachofourelectronicsignaturesinthesignaturelinesattheendoftheseReasonsforDecision.
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GeorgesBoisse,PublicRepresentative,Chairperson
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JamesKwaateng,Member
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BrianGushulak,PublicRepresentative
