Key Takeaways
- Employers of teachers and ECEs must report certain charges (OCT Act, s. 43.3; ECE Act, s. 49.2).
- Interim order tests are about risk, not guilt.
- Regulators can act without waiting for the criminal case.
- Coordinate regulatory submissions with criminal counsel.
Why Charges Trigger Action
Charges involving vulnerable people often prompt mandatory employer reports and an immediate risk assessment. The tests for interim orders ask whether conduct exposes or is likely to expose patients, students or children to harm (Code, s. 25.4; OCT Act, s. 29.2; ECE Act, s. 32.2).
Responding Carefully
- Focus submissions on risk management rather than the facts of the charge.
- Offer bail conditions and practice restrictions as evidence that risk is controlled.
- Avoid statements that could affect the criminal case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I wait for my criminal lawyer?
Involve them immediately, but do not miss the regulator’s submission deadline.
What if the charge is withdrawn?
Ask the regulator to vary or lift the order, with evidence of the withdrawal.
Sources
Statutory references are to the provisions listed below, as consolidated on e-Laws when this page was prepared.
- Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996, ss. 29.2, 43.3 — Checked November 10, 2026.
- Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007, ss. 32.2, 49.2 — Checked November 10, 2026.
- Health Professions Procedural Code (RHPA, Sched. 2), s. 25.4 — Checked November 10, 2026.