Professional Complaints

HRPA can only investigate a complaint filed against one of our Registrants. To determine if an individual is a Registrant of the HRPA, use the HRPA Public Register or contact the Office of the Registrar.

A complaint against an HRPA Registrant can be lodged by anyone, including a member of the public, a fellow HRPA Registrant or the Registrar on behalf of the HRPA.

Complaints against non-registrants must be directed to authorities other than the HRPA. 

If you wish to register a complaint about an HRPA Registrant, please download & complete the complaint form. All complaints must be received in writing (letter mail or email) and should clearly and precisely state:

• The complainant’s full name and contact information
• The name(s) of the Registrant(s) who are the subject of the complaint​
• A description of the problem and which section(s) of the Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct are alleged to have been breached​
• A chronological history of the events including the date, time and location where specific events occurred
• The name(s) and contact information of any witness or anyone who may be able to provide further information
• A summary of the complaint and copies of any documentation (letters, etc.) that support the complaint (this is known as evidence). If it is alleged that more than one section of the Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct has been breached, then the supporting documentation should be clearly labelled as to which allegation(s) it supports.
• Whether the complaint will be or has been filed with an official legal body (e.g., the Ontario Human Rights Commission). If yes, identify the body and the status of the matter.

Written complaints must be sent to either:​

Email: registrar@hrpa.ca

Mail:
HRPA
150 Bloor St. W., Suite 200
Toronto, ON M5S 2X9

Once a complaint is filed, it is reviewed by the Office of the Registrar to ensure all necessary information has been provided. A copy of the complaint, including supporting documents, is then sent to the Registrant who is the subject of the complaint. The information sent to the Registrant includes the name of the Complainant but not their contact information.

The Registrant is given 30 calendar days to submit a written response to the complaint, which is then shared with the Complainant. The Complainant may respond in writing to the Registrant’s submission within 14 days to either refute statements made by the Registrant, or address any new issue raised by the Registrant. This is not an opportunity for the Complainant to restate their case or raise new issues. Any response by the Complainant will be shared with the Registrant, who will be provided with the same opportunity to respond to the Complainant’s second submission within 14 days.

Once both the Complainant and the Registrant have had the opportunity to make their submissions, the Chair of the Complaints Committee appoints a panel to consider the complaint.

The Panel of the Complaints Committee may decide that the matter requires further investigation. The Panel may interview witnesses to assist in the determination of facts or to bring clarity to the circumstances that initiated the complaint. The Panel may also engage an investigator to conduct an investigation on their behalf.

Once the investigation (if any) is complete, the Complaints Committee considers all the evidence and may do one or more of the following:

• Direct that the matter not be referred to the Discipline Committee (this means the complaint has been dismissed)
• Take any action that it considers appropriate in the circumstances, including requiring the Registrant to attend before one or more members of the Panel to receive a caution or admonishment
• Negotiate a tentative settlement agreement between HRPA and the Registrant and refer the agreement to the Discipline Committee for approval
• Direct that the matter be referred, in whole or in part, to the Discipline Committee

The Complaints Committee has no authority to provide a financial remedy (damages) to the complainant and cannot dictate whether an individual shall be rehired once they have been terminated by an employer.

Once the panel of the Complaints Committee has reached a decision, the decision and reasons will be provided to both the Complainant and the Registrant in writing.

If the panel of the Complaints Committee decides to refer the complaint to the Discipline Committee, then a Notice of Hearing will be issued, and HRPA’s discipline process will be followed.

If the complaint is not being referred to discipline, then the Complainant or the Registrant may request a review of the Complaints Committee’s decision by the Appeal Committee. The request for an appeal must be made within 30 calendar days of the Complaints Committee’s decision and reasons being provided to the Complainant and the Registrant.