Insights

Penalties and Outcomes

Outcomes range from no action at all to permanent loss of your licence. Knowing the full range, and the statutory limits, helps you assess risk and negotiate realistically.

At the investigation stage, most regulators can take no action, give advice, require remedial education, or ask you to appear for a caution. After a hearing, the range widens to reprimands, conditions on practice, suspension, revocation and fines. Some findings, particularly sexual abuse of patients or students, carry mandatory penalties. Licensing regulators also use administrative penalties that can be imposed without a hearing, subject to an appeal.

Maximum discipline fines and administrative penalties

RegimeMaximumSource
Regulated health colleges (discipline)$35,000Code, s. 51(2)
Pharmacies (proprietary misconduct)$100,000DPRA, s. 140(3.1)
Law Society (conduct)$100,000Law Society Act, s. 35(1)
Real estate (discipline)$50,000 individual; $100,000 brokerageTRESA, s. 21(4)
New-home builders (discipline)$50,000 individual; $100,000 otherNHCLA, s. 57(4.1)
Motor vehicle dealers; condo managers (discipline)$25,000MVDA, s. 17(4); CMSA, s. 58(4)
Teachers; social workers; veterinarians; engineers; architects$5,000OCT Act s. 30(5); SWSSW Act s. 26(5); Vet Act s. 30(5); PEA s. 28(4); Architects Act s. 34
Early childhood educators$2,000ECE Act, s. 33(5)
CPA OntarioNo statutory maximumCPA Ontario Act, s. 35(4)
Mortgage licensing (administrative penalty)$100,000 individual; $500,000 brokerage or administratorMBLAA, s. 41
Insurance (general administrative penalty)$100,000 individual; $200,000 otherInsurance Act, s. 441.5
Child care (administrative penalty)$100,000 per contraventionCCEYA, s. 39(3)

Summary only. Each regime has exceptions and conditions. Read the cited provision and get advice about your notice.

Key Points

Mandatory revocation

Certain sexual abuse findings require revocation for health professionals (Code, s. 51(5)), teachers (OCT Act, s. 30.2) and ECEs (ECE Act, s. 33.2).

Costs can exceed fines

Many regimes allow costs orders, which can include investigation and hearing expenses and are often larger than the fine.

Outcomes are often public

Cautions, remediation programs, undertakings and discipline results commonly appear on public registers.

Guides in This Topic

Sources

  1. Health Professions Procedural Code, s. 51 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  2. Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act, s. 140 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  3. Law Society Act, s. 35 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  4. Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002, s. 21 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  5. New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017, s. 57 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  6. Motor Vehicle Dealers Act, 2002, s. 17 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  7. Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996, ss. 30, 30.2 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  8. Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007, ss. 33, 33.2 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  9. Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006, s. 41 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  10. Insurance Act, s. 441.5 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
  11. Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, s. 39 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.

Keep Learning About Your Proceeding

Read how Ontario regulatory proceedings typically unfold, or compare how other regulators handle complaints, hearings and appeals.