Complaints Process

They are also required to

• Adhere to our Code of Ethics 
• Meet professional development requirements each year 
• Maintain their police record screening 
• Complete annual abuse prevention training.

If you feel that an OG Canada practitioner you have been working with has acted in a way that is inappropriate, you may submit a complaint to OG Canada.

Step 1: Submit an informal complaint

Complaints may be submitted (once you're logged into Google) through this form, or by email to the board chair. At this point, the complaint is informal and may be submitted anonymously.

Step 2: Complaint Review

Within 24 hours of receiving the complaint, the chair will, along with one other board member, create an Interim Complaints Committee. This committee will:

• Confirm that the complaint is regarding a practicing OG Canada practitioner. 
• Review the nature of the complaint to confirm if the complaint: 
• Falls within OG Canada’s jurisdiction. 
• Leaves the Interim Complaints Committee concerned about the immediate safety of the students in the practitioner’s care. If yes, the practitioner will have his/her membership immediately suspended and the practitioner will be notified that they may not practice until the Complaints Committee has completed their investigation and made a ruling. 
• Alleges abuse that is required by law to be reported to the appropriate authorities, and determine if the authorities have been properly informed. If yes, the practitioner will have his/her membership immediately suspended and the practitioner will be notified that they may not practice until the Complaints Committee has completed their investigation and made a ruling. 
• Requires the insurer to be notified.

Step 3: Formal Complaint

If the Interim Complaints Committee agrees that the complaint falls under the jurisdiction of OG Canada, the complainant will be sent a formal complaint form. At this time the complainant will be asked to provide their name.

Step 4: Investigation

Once OG Canada receives a formal complaint, the Interim Complaints Committee will be disbanded. In its place, a Complaints Committee will be formed. This committee will include

• The board chair, 
• Three board members, or 2 board members plus one practitioner 
• One OG Canada trainer, master trainer, or fellow. 

The Complaints Committee will investigate the complaint as follows: 

1. The formal complaint will be reviewed and the Complaints Committee will collect all relevant information pertaining to the complaint. This may include asking the practitioner to speak to the committee. 
2. The Complaints Committee will coordinate with the insurer and respond to any questions or requests from the insurer. 
3. The Complaints Committee will review the information and decide on a course of action as to the outcome of the complaint.

Step 5: Possible Outcomes

There are four possible outcomes of a complaint. The complaints committee may rule that:

1. The practitioner was at fault, but that the fault did not include abuse. There may be a disciplinary process or a re-training requirement for the practitioner. If the practitioner has been suspended the practitioner will either immediately or eventually be reinstated. An advisory statement may be added to the practitioner’s file. 
2. The practitioner was at fault, and there is evidence that abuse occurred. 
• The practitioner will be permanently removed from active practitioner status. 
• The membership will be informed that the practitioner is no longer a member. 
• The board will follow governmental protocol regarding whether public notification should occur. 
• The practitioner's file will remain permanently with OG Canada so that should the practitioner attempt to reapply in the future the practitioner’s history will be known and the application barred. 
3. The practitioner was not at fault, but that the Code of Ethics or the Abuse Reporting & Prevention policy needs to be modified. The membership must then be notified about this change. 
4. The practitioner was not at fault, and that no changes to OG Canada procedures need to be made.