Investigation Committee

Investigation Committee

The Investigation Committee contributes to achieving CPABC’s objective “to regulate all matters, including competency, fitness and professional conduct, relating to the practice of accounting by members, students, professional accounting corporations and registered firms” and “to establish and enforce professional standards”.

The Investigation Committee’s purpose is to investigate the conduct of a member, former member, student, professional accounting corporation, former professional accounting corporation, registered firm or a former registered firm on its own initiative or at the written request by any person; in accordance with the provisions in Part 11 of the CPABC Bylaws.

Under Section 51(1) and 51(3) of the Chartered Professional Accountants Act, the Investigation Committee has the authority to conduct investigations of members, former members, students, professional accounting corporations, former professional accounting corporations, registered firms or former registered firms to determine whether grounds exist for disciplinary action against that person, corporation or firm under Section 53 of the Act. The Investigation Committee also has the authority under Section 52 of the Act to request information, records or items relevant to the investigation. Part 11 of the Bylaws set out additional specific authorities of the Investigation Committee.

Accountability

The Investigation Committee is accountable to the Board for:

  • Overseeing the ethics investigation program as described in the Bylaws of CPABC;
  • Contacting and liaising with the member, student, corporation or firm; 
  • Reviewing the investigation reports;
  • Determining whether grounds exist for disciplinary action;
  • Making recommendations for sanctions and/or remedial action;
  • Bringing the member’s, student’s, corporation’s or firm’s conduct to the attention of the Disciplinary Committee for adjudication in those matters that the Investigation Committee views as warranting a formal discipline hearing;
  • Communicating in writing with both the complainant and the member, student, corporation or firm regarding the results of its deliberations; and
  • Publishing a summary of cases reviewed by the Investigation Committee for the education and guidance of all members, students, corporations and firms.

Committee Membership

The Investigation Committee is comprised of:

  • At least three individuals who are not CPAs and, therefore, are not members of CPABC;
  • At least ten CPA members who are not members of the Board, the Public Practice  Committee, the Membership Committee and the Disciplinary Committee; and
  • Such additional ad hoc members as the Investigation Committee requires.

Members of the Investigation Committee are appointed by the Board annually and generally serve for a maximum term of six years. The Investigation Committee is chaired by a member of the Committee who is a CPA member and who is appointed by the Board as chair.