Brief Summary

Case One:

Discipline Committee Order:

In 2017, the College’s Discipline Committee ordered the member pay costs of $142,000 to the College. Specifically, the Discipline Committee ordered the member pay these costs within 36 months of his return to practise following a licence suspension. In 2022, the total costs amount was due and outstanding.

Divisional Court Orders:

In 2018, the Divisional Court dismissed the member’s appeal and ordered him to pay costs of $6,000. In 2020, the Divisional Court dismissed the member’s motion to challenge the referral of his matter to the Discipline Committee and ordered him to pay costs of $6,000. The total amounts are due and outstanding.

Ontario Court of Appeals Orders:

In 2019, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the member’s appeal and ordered him to pay costs of $1,000. In 2021, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the member’s motion for leave to appeal the Divisional Court’s 2020 Decision and ordered him to pay costs of $5,000. The total amounts are due and outstanding.

Supreme Court Orders:

In 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the member’s appeal and ordered him to pay costs of $1,305.60. In 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the Ontario Court of Appeal’s 2021 Decision and ordered him to pay costs of $1,046.31. The total amounts are due and outstanding.

Between 2020 to 2023, the College sent the member multiple collection letters about the outstanding amounts and indicated that failure to comply with the orders could result in revocation of his licence. The member failed to respond to the College’s collection letters or make payments.

Case Two:

The member inappropriately alleged, among other things, 

• College staff and College counsel had engaged in “financial fraud” and other illegal activities;
• College staff acted inappropriately and/or illegally in the course of conducting investigations;
• College staff tampered with and/or otherwise manipulated evidence; and,
• College staff created false documentation and/or evidence.

Allegations of Professional Misconduct

Case One:

• failed to comply with the orders of the Discipline Committee, Ontario Divisional Court, Court of Appeal for Ontario, and Supreme Court of Canada
• failed to pay costs owed to the College
• failed to reply appropriately to written inquiries received from the College.
• an act or omission relevant to the practice of veterinary medicine that, having regard to the circumstances, would be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional

Case Two:

• failed to reply appropriately to a written inquiry received from the College
• an act or omission relevant to the practice of veterinary medicine that, having regard to the circumstances, would be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional
• conduct unbecoming a veterinarian

Decision

The panel made an order adjourning this matter “sine die”.

Motion

The Discipline Committee adjourned the hearings “sine die”, in other words indefinitely.

The College submitted that it was not in the public interest to proceed with the allegations of professional misconduct as the member had irrevocably resigned his licence as of October 26, 2023. 

Panel's Reasoning

The panel agreed that adjourning the matter indefinitely is in the public interest. Because the member has resigned his licence there is no longer a risk to the public. Due to the resignation, there is no need for a hearing to determine the merit of the allegations of professional misconduct and assign penalties.