Welcome to the Regulation Pro Blog. SML’s blog contains brief discussions of court decisions and other developments in professional regulation, with one or two new posts per week. Explore our catalogue below or on CanLII.
Please note that the information contained in Regulation Pro is not intended to be legal advice and is not intended to be acted upon. The information contained herein is intended for general information and educational purposes only.
Guidance on Guidelines
Courts have repeatedly indicated that guidelines can assist regulators when they are exercising discretion. Guidelines can ensure that decision-makers are reminded of the considerations that
Incivility, and Sanctioning for It
At some point for most professions, rudeness can cross the line from simply being unseemly to constituting professional misconduct. For lawyers advocating fearlessly on behalf
The Importance of Engaging with the Issues
The importance of addressing the significant issues raised when screening complaints was reinforced in Sarpong v Law Enforcement Complaints Agency, 2026 ONSC 3525 (CanLII). There,
Another Good Faith Protection for Regulators
Most regulators are not liable for damages unless they act in bad faith. The rationale for this qualified immunity is to enable regulators to avoid
Failed Delivery
In Real Estate Council of Alberta v More, 2026 ABKB 459 (CanLII), the regulator received several complaints about a former registrant’s conduct which raised serious
Challenging Disciplinary Findings
In Bacchus v. Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, 2026 ONSC 3415 (CanLII), the registrant appealed a discipline panel’s decision on the basis that
Perhaps, Maybe, Sometimes
Some regulators have whistleblower policies. Most commonly, they are for internal use as a safeguard to ensure that the regulator and its leadership are conducting
Cameras and Confidentiality
A nefarious intent is not required in order to constitute a breach of client confidentiality. A plastic surgeon faced disciplinary, privacy enforcement and civil consequences
Balancing Public Protection and Fairness
Ontario’s highest court has discussed the mandate of regulators of professions in The Law Society of Upper Canada v Watson, 2026 ONCA 372. The Court