Code of Professional Ethics FAQ - FINAL 2 - Front … · code of professional ethics faq 2016-01...

CODEOFPROFESSIONALETHICSFAQ

Version: 2016-01 Last Modified: April 12, 2016

©2016 IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS OF CANADA REGULATORY COUNCIL

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WhatisthepurposeofaCodeofProfessionalEthics?

ThisCodesetsstandardsofconductforRCICs,thefairandefficientenforcementofwhichshouldprotectthepublicfromunethicalorincompetentpracticebyMembers.

AreallRegulatedCanadianImmigrationConsultants(RCICs)requiredtoobeytheCodeofProfessionalEthics?

Yes.ThisCodeisbindingonallMembers.MemberswhofailtocomplywiththisCodewillbesubjecttodisciplinaryproceedings.

WhatshouldanRCICdoiftheywitnessanotherRCICisbreachingtheCodeofProfessionalEthics?

AMembershallpromptlyreporttoICCRCanyconductbyanyMemberorAgentthatisinconsistentwiththisCode.Whereverpossible,theMembershallfirstrequestanexplanationfromthispersontoassistindeterminingwhetherthereisanyobligationtoreporttheconduct.CanamemberspeakpubliclyaboutanotherMember?

AMembershallnotmakeapublicstatementaboutanotherRCICinhis/hercapacityasaMember,abouttheICCRCitself,oraboutanyemployeeorotherpersonretainedbytheICCRCthatisfalseormisleadinginthegeneralimpressionitgives.IftheMembermakessuchapublicstatementandattemptstoconcealtheMember’sidentitythatincreasestheseriousnessoftheoffence.Howmustservicestoberenderedonbehalfofaclientbeperformed?

ARCICmustperformallservicesonbehalfofaclientcompetently.ARCICshouldnotundertakeforaclientanytaskorservicethattheRCICisnotfullycompetentbyknowledgeandexperiencetohandle.ARCICwhodeterminesthathe/sheisnotcompetentshoulddeclinetoactonbehalfofaclientorwiththeclient’sconsentretain,consultorworkwithanotherpersonwhoiscompetentandlicensedtoperformthetaskorservice.

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Whatdoescompetencemean?

Tobecompetentincludes:

(i) understanding,andbeingabletointerpretandapply,thestatutes,regulations,relevant

judicialdecisionsandinterpretationsofthefederalandprovinciallaws,policiesandadministrativepracticesapplicableatthetimetothematterundertakenonbehalfofaClient;

(ii) topresentoralandwrittenargumentsonbehalfoftheclient;and

(iii)tobefamiliarwiththeregulatoryrequirementsoftheICCRC.

HowwouldaMemberensurethataClient’sdocumentsareproperlydeliveredtoImmigration,Refugees,andCitizenshipCanada(IRCC)oranyothergovernmentorgovernmentagent?

IfaMemberneedstodeliverClientdocumentstoIRCCoranyothergovernmentorgovernmentagent,theMembershallmakebesteffortstoensurethat:

(i) thedocumentstobedeliveredarecompletedproperlyandsigned,ifrequired;(ii) thepackageofdocumentsiscomplete;and

(iii)thedocumentsaredeliveredtotherightaddressee,intherightplace,andbeforeany

applicabledeadline.AgentsarenotMembersnoraretheyregulatedbyICCRC.WhoisresponsibleforAgents?

AMemberisresponsiblefortheactsoromissionsoftheMember’sAgentsandEmployeescarriedoutinthecourseoftheirduties,andshallensurethatallAgentsandEmployeesconductthemselvesinaccordancewiththisCodeandallrelevantRegulationsoftheICCRC.MustaClient’sinformationbekeptconfidentialatalltimes?

AMembershallholdinstrictconfidence,atalltimes,includingaftertheRCIChasfinishedactingonbehalfoftheclient,allinformationconcerningthepersonalandbusinessaffairsofaClient,andshallnotdisclosesuchinformationunless: (A) thedisclosureis:

(i) expresslyorimpliedlyauthorizedbytheClient;

(ii) requiredbyaCanadiancourt;or

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(iii) requiredbyastatuteorregulationofCanada;or

(B) theMemberhasabonafidebeliefthatthedisclosureisrequiredbyaprovinciallawWhenmustanRCICstoprepresentingaClient?

AMembershallwithdrawastheClient’srepresentative,if:

(i) dischargedbytheClient;

(ii) instructedbytheClienttodosomethingillegalorincontraventionofthisCode;

(iii)theMember’scontinuedinvolvementwillplacetheMemberinaconflictofinterest;or

(iv)theMemberisnotcompetenttohandlethematter.

WhenWithdrawalOptional

AMembermay,butisnotrequiredto,withdrawastheClient’srepresentativeiftherehasbeenaseriouslossofconfidencebetweentheMemberandClient,includingif:

(i) theClienthasdeceivedtheMember;

(ii) theClienthasfailedtogiveadequateinstructionstotheMember;or

(iii) theClienthasfailedtoacceptandactupontheMember’sadviceonasignificantpoint.WithdrawalonOtherBasisInsituationsnotcoveredbyArticles11.1and11.2,aMembermaywithdrawastheClient’srepresentativeonlyifthewithdrawal:

(i) willnotprejudicetheClient’sinterests;and

(ii) isnotdoneforanimproperpurpose.

MayanRCICstoprepresentingaClientiftheClientfailstopaytheRCICforworkperformed?

Yes.Where,afterreasonablenotice,theClientfailstopaytheMember’sfeesordisbursementsasagreed,aMembermaywithdrawastheClient’srepresentativeunlessseriousprejudicetotheClientwouldresult.

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WhatmustanRCICdowhenconcludinghis/herworkingrelationshipwithaClient?

Upondischargeorwithdrawal,anRCICshall:

(i) delivertotheClientalldocuments,filesandpropertythatbelongtotheClient;

(ii) givetheClientalltheinformationthatmayberequiredinconnectionwiththematter;

(iii) accountforallfundsoftheClientheldorpreviouslydealtwith,andrefundanyfundsnotearnedduringtheretainer;

(iv) promptlyrenderanaccountforanyoutstandingfeesanddisbursements;

(v) co-operatewiththesuccessorsoastominimizeexpenseandavoidprejudicetotheClient;and

(vi) makebesteffortstonotifyinwriting,within10days,anygovernmentagencywheretheMember’snameappearsasrepresentativefortheClient.

CananRCICusetheICCRClogo?

AMembershallusetheICCRC’sdesignationandtheICCRC’slogoonlyasmaybepermittedbyanICCRCpolicyorRegulation,andonlyincompliancewithClause12.1.

DoesanRCICneedtocarryinsurance?

Yes.EveryMembershallmaintainerrorsandomissionsinsuranceofnolessthantheminimumamountrequiredbytheICCRCfromtimetotime.

CananRCICcommunicatewithaclientwhohasfiledacomplaintagainstthem?

No.

WhathappensifanRCICviolatesQuébeclaw?

AMemberwhocommitsanyviolationoftheQuébecimmigrationlawsshallbedeemedtohaveengagedinProfessionalMisconduct.