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CODEOFPROFESSIONALETHICSFAQ
Version: 2016-01 Last Modified: April 12, 2016
©2016 IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS OF CANADA REGULATORY COUNCIL
CONSEIL DE RÉGLEMENTATION DES CONSULTANTS EN IMMIGRATION DU CANADA www.iccrc-crcic.ca
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.
CODEOFPROFESSIONALETHICSFAQ 2016-01
©2016 IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS OF CANADA REGULATORY COUNCIL
CONSEIL DE RÉGLEMENTATION DES CONSULTANTS EN IMMIGRATION DU CANADA Page 2 of 4
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
CODEOFPROFESSIONALETHICSFAQ 2016-01
©2016 IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS OF CANADA REGULATORY COUNCIL
CONSEIL DE RÉGLEMENTATION DES CONSULTANTS EN IMMIGRATION DU CANADA Page 3 of 4
(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.
CODEOFPROFESSIONALETHICSFAQ 2016-01
©2016 IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS OF CANADA REGULATORY COUNCIL
CONSEIL DE RÉGLEMENTATION DES CONSULTANTS EN IMMIGRATION DU CANADA Page 4 of 4
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.