Know your clock
Review and appeal deadlines are often short and start on different events. The deadline for Divisional Court appeals comes from the court’s rules.
There is no single appeal route. Health college complaint decisions can be reviewed by the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board. Discipline decisions usually go to the Divisional Court. Licensing tribunal decisions may be appealed to the Divisional Court, sometimes only on questions of law. A few decisions are final by statute, leaving judicial review as the only option.
Whether the order is paused while you appeal also varies. Some statutes make orders effective immediately; others delay misconduct orders until the appeal ends.
Appeal and review routes compared
| Decision | Next step | Effect on the order | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health college ICRC decision on a complaint | HPARB review within 30 days after notice of the right to review | — | Code, s. 29 |
| Health college discipline decision | Divisional Court, on law or fact | Some orders take effect immediately | Code, ss. 70–71 |
| Veterinary Complaints Committee decision | HPARB review within 30 days of receiving the decision | — | Vet Act, s. 25(2) |
| Teacher, ECE, social work discipline | Divisional Court, on law or fact | Takes effect despite appeal | OCT s. 35; ECE s. 38; SWSSW s. 31 |
| Engineer or architect discipline | Divisional Court | Misconduct orders paused; incompetence orders immediate | PEA ss. 29, 31; Architects Act ss. 34, 36 |
| Law Society Hearing Division | Appeal Division, then Divisional Court | No stay unless the court orders | Law Society Act, ss. 49.32, 49.38, 49.41 |
| CPA Ontario discipline | CPA Ontario appeal committee only | No stay unless ordered | CPA Ontario Act, s. 37 |
| LAT (liquor, cannabis) | Divisional Court, question of law only | Effective immediately; court may stay | LAT Act, ss. 5.1(5), 11(3) |
| FST (mortgage, insurance) | Divisional Court | Effective immediately; FST may stay | MBLAA s. 21(5)–(6); Insurance Act s. 407.1(5)–(6) |
| OLRB (OHSA orders) | Final | — | OHSA, s. 61(6) |
| OLT (EPA Director orders) | Divisional Court, question of law only | — | EPA, s. 145.6 |
Summary only. Each regime has exceptions and conditions. Read the cited provision and get advice about your notice.
Key Points
Reviews are not rehearings
An HPARB review focuses on how the decision was made. Under the Veterinarians Act, for example, the Board considers the adequacy of the investigation and the reasonableness of the decision (s. 25(11)).
Ask for a stay early
If an order takes effect despite an appeal, a stay motion may be the most urgent step.
Guides in This Topic
- HPARB Reviews: How They Work and What They Can ChangeRead →
- Appealing a Discipline Decision to the Divisional CourtRead →
- Judicial Review of Regulatory DecisionsRead →
- Stays Pending Appeal: Keeping Your Licence While You AppealRead →
- Questions of Law Only: Appeals From the LAT and OLTRead →
- Appeals From the Financial Services TribunalRead →
- Internal Appeal Committees: CPA Ontario, OMVIC, CMRAO and HCRARead →
- Standard of Review on Regulatory AppealsRead →
- When a Decision Is Final by StatuteRead →
- Fresh Evidence on AppealRead →
- Appeal Deadlines You Cannot Afford to MissRead →
Sources
- Health Professions Procedural Code, ss. 29, 70–71 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Veterinarians Act, s. 25 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Professional Engineers Act, ss. 29, 31 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Architects Act, ss. 34, 36 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Law Society Act, ss. 49.32–49.41 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario Act, 2017, s. 37 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Licence Appeal Tribunal Act, 1999, ss. 5.1, 11 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, s. 61 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Environmental Protection Act, s. 145.6 — 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.