Bill 32 explained in plain English
Registered Human Resources Professionals Act, 2013
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
The Registered Human Resources Professionals Act, 2013, continues and renames the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario, establishing a new regulatory framework, standards, and disciplinary procedures for human resources professionals in Ontario.
This Act, the Registered Human Resources Professionals Act, 2013, establishes a new framework for regulating human resources professionals in Ontario. It continues the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario, renames it to the Human Resources Professionals Association, and outlines its objects, which include protecting the public interest by setting and enforcing standards for its members. The Act details the structure and powers of the Association's Board of Directors and its committees. It establishes procedures for membership, including a process for appeals against refused membership or restrictions. The Act also sets out a system for handling complaints against members, including investigations, disciplinary processes, and potential penalties such as suspension or revocation of membership. It introduces provisions for practice inspections, and procedures for addressing member incapacity. Furthermore, the Act prohibits the unauthorized use of specific professional designations and initials, with penalties for violations. It also makes provisions for firms that practice human resources and for handling bankruptcies or insolvencies of members and firms. The Act repeals the previous Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario Act, 1990.
- Continues the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario as a corporation without share capital under the name Human Resources Professionals Association.
- Establishes the objects of the Association, including promoting and protecting the public interest by governing and regulating the practice of its members.
- Provides a framework for membership in the Association, including requirements, admission, and the issuance of certificates.
- Prohibits the use of specified professional designations and initials by unauthorized individuals or entities.
- Sets out procedures for dealing with complaints against the Association’s members and establishes a disciplinary process, including the powers of a discipline committee.
- Authorizes practice inspections of members and firms.
- Establishes procedures for determining if a member is incapacitated and grants the capacity committee powers to address incapacity.
- Provides for the appointment of investigators and inspectors and outlines their powers.
- Sets out rules for firms that practice human resources, including registration and responsibilities.
- Addresses bankruptcy and insolvency events for members and firms.
- Establishes provisions for custodianship orders for property related to a member's practice in certain circumstances.
- Maintains a public register of members, firms, and students.
- Repeals the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario Act, 1990.
- Amends the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006.
- Amends the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009.
- Human resources professionals who are members of the Association.
- Individuals seeking to become members of the Association.
- Students of the Association.
- Firms practicing in the field of human resources.
- The public who may interact with human resources professionals.
- The Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (now Human Resources Professionals Association).
- The Board of Directors of the Association.
- Committees of the Association (complaints, discipline, review, capacity, appeal).
- Investigators and inspectors appointed under the Act.
- Registrar of the Association.
- Members have the right to practice in the field of human resources, subject to restrictions and conditions imposed by the Act.
- Members have obligations related to their conduct, competence, and professional ethics as defined by the Act and by-laws.
- The Association has a duty to promote and protect the public interest.
- Individuals are prohibited from using specific professional designations and initials unless authorized.
- Members and firms must notify the Registrar in case of bankruptcy or insolvency events.
- Members must cooperate with investigations and inspections.
- The Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent (November 6, 2013).
- Members and firms may be subject to fines for contravening the Act (up to $25,000).
- Directors or officers of corporations that are found guilty of an offence are also liable to fines (up to $25,000).
- Costs reasonably incurred by the Association in prosecuting an offence may be ordered to be paid by the convicted person.
- Costs of practice inspections are to be borne by the member or firm.
- The Association may establish and administer a benevolent or charitable fund and may make or receive contributions.
- By-laws may govern the payment of fees, fines, and other amounts to the Association, and may provide exemptions.
- Contravention of section 26 (prohibitions on using designations) can result in a fine of up to $25,000.
- Directors or officers of a corporation that commits an offence under section 26 can also be fined up to $25,000.
- Obstruction of an investigator or inspector, or withholding/concealing/altering/destroying relevant documents, is an offence with a fine of up to $25,000.
- Directors or officers of a corporation that obstructs an investigator or inspector can also be fined up to $25,000.
- Contravention of the duty of confidentiality (section 62) is an offence with a fine of up to $25,000.
- Disciplinary committee powers include revoking or suspending membership/registration, imposing restrictions, issuing reprimands, directing rehabilitative measures, imposing fines, and ordering the return of certificates.
- Preliminary suspension or conditions may be imposed by the discipline committee if there are reasonable grounds to believe harm to the public may occur.
- The capacity committee can suspend a member's membership if they fail to comply with a medical or psychological examination order.
- The capacity committee can suspend membership or impose restrictions if a member is found incapacitated.
- The review committee can suspend membership or impose restrictions on members/firms in cases of bankruptcy or insolvency if there's a risk of harm to others.
- The Superior Court of Justice can issue an order prohibiting contravention of section 26, and violations of this order can lead to further legal action.
- The specific provisions of the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010, that will apply to the Association are to be prescribed by regulation.
- Details regarding membership requirements, standards of practice, professional ethics, and professional conduct are to be specified in by-laws made by the Board.
- The exact composition of the Board (number of elected vs. appointed members) is subject to by-laws, within the parameters set by the Act.
- The specific functions and procedures of various committees (complaints, discipline, review, capacity, appeal) are to be established by by-laws.
- The specific designations and initials that members are authorized to use are detailed in Table 1, but the Board's authorization to use them is subject to by-laws.
- The specific reasons for which membership may be suspended or revoked, beyond failure to pay fees or provide required information, are to be specified by by-laws (Section 19(1)(d)).
- The specific circumstances under which a member is deemed incapacitated are defined, but the interpretation and application will rely on medical and psychological assessments.
- The by-laws will specify many operational details, such as the content of the register, requirements for firms, and procedures for meetings and disciplinary actions.
- The exact timing of when regulations or by-laws related to specific sections will come into effect is not always explicitly stated, beyond the general commencement of the Act.
- The Act does not interfere with the right of non-members to practice in the field of human resources.
This is the new Act that establishes the regulatory framework for human resources professionals in Ontario, including the continuation of the Association, its objects, governance, membership, disciplinary processes, and prohibitions.
Source: Section 1
This Act is repealed and replaced by the Registered Human Resources Professionals Act, 2013.
Source: Section 73
Section 1 of Schedule 1 is amended to include the Human Resources Professionals Association.
Source: Section 74
Item 12 of Table 1 is repealed, and Table 1 is amended by adding an item related to the Registered Human Resources Professionals Act, 2013.
Source: Section 75
This Act does not apply to the Association, except as may be prescribed by regulation, and the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing which provisions of this Act apply to the Association.
Source: Section 3 (5), (6)
Section 92 (implied provisions for corporations) does not apply to the Association.
Source: Section 3 (4)
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
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Vote Summary
This bill does not have a published recorded division in the current official sources, so representative-by-representative vote counts are not shown.
No published representative vote breakdown
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Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
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