BILL NO. 138

(ii) a referral by the Chief Executive Officer in circumstances set out in the by-laws;

(ii) "Fellow of the Certified Management Accountants" and "FCMA" permitted for use by members of CMANS or CMA Canada, and

(iii) "Fellow of the Chartered Accountants" and "FCA" permitted for use by members of ICANS;

(ii) using any of the protected designations as part of the name or description of the organization, or

(iii) carrying on any other activity identified in the by-laws as being an activity that, if undertaken to the extent set out in the by-laws, would cause the organization to be considered a firm for the purpose of this Act;

(ii) "Honorary Certified Management Accountant" and "CMA (Hon)" permitted for use by members of CMANS or CMA Canada, and

(iii) "Honorary Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia" and "CA (Hon)" as elected by the members of ICANS;

(ii) "Certified Management Accountant",

(iii) "Chartered Accountant",

(iv) "CGA",

(v) "CMA", and

(vi) "CA";

(ii) uses any of the protected designations as part of the name or description of the corporation, or

(iii) carries on any other activity identified in the by-laws as being an activity that, if undertaken to the extent set out in the by-laws, would cause the corporation to be considered a professional corporation for the purpose of this Act;

(ii) a breach of this Act, the regulations or the by-laws,

(iii) practising accounting while the ability to practise accounting is impaired,

(iv) any contravention of the provisions of an Act of the Parliament of Canada, an enactment of the Province or the laws of a foreign jurisdiction, or regulations made thereunder, that is inconsistent with the proper professional behaviour of an individual registered by CPA Nova Scotia, and

(v) failing to abide by any registration conditions or restrictions or any order or direction issued under this Act, the regulations or the by-laws;

(ii) "Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Nova Scotia",

(iii) "Honorary Chartered Professional Accountant",

(iv) "CPA",

(v) "FCPA", and

(vi) "CPA (Hon)";

(ii) is not and has never been a member, student or candidate of an accounting profession;

(ii) a reprimand, condition or restriction imposed by an investigation panel or its equivalent in another jurisdiction, and consented to by the registrant or registered firm, outside of an informal resolution process,

(iii) a

issued by a hearing panel or its equivalent in another jurisdiction, or

(iv) such other sanction as may be set out in the by-laws;

(ii) regulating the provision of regulated services,

(iii) certifying members to engage in the practice of public accounting,

(iv) regulating the practice, competence and professional conduct of registrants and registered firms, and

(v) regulating the use of protected designations in accordance with this Act and the by-laws;

(ii) governing the composition of the committees, and in so doing applying the principle that for the first five years following the coming into force of this Act, the Board shall strive to include equal representation from legacy bodies, if it best serves the public interest,

(iii) governing the manner of appointment, terms of office, re-appointment and qualifications of committee members, including governing the public representation required on any committee,

(iv) establishing the functions, operations, processes, practices and procedures of each committee,

(v) determining the manner in which the members of a committee must be notified of a meeting and the consequences, if any, of failing to provide notice, and

(vi) determining the means by which a committee makes decisions;

(ii) entitled by a regulator in a foreign jurisdiction to use a protected designation;

(ii) the monitoring, assessment, evaluation and verification of the experience of any student, candidate or other person seeking admission to CPA Nova Scotia;

(ii) the names by which firms may be known or operate,

(iii) the resignation of members,

(iv) the requirement that each registered firm designate a representative, and the qualifications required and responsibilities of that representative, and

(v) the imposition of conditions or restrictions on such registration;

(ii) establishing a mechanism to consider and determine claims of solicitor-client privilege during an investigation or hearing, including the production and use of the document and how any privilege must be maintained,

(iii) establishing the process for making a determination pursuant to Section 74,

(iv) establishing processes for investigating the conduct, capacity, practice or professional competence of a registrant or registered firm,

(v) respecting the appointment, powers and responsibilities of investigators,

(vi) prescribing the process by which a complaint is to be processed and disposed of,

(vii) establishing a range of the outcomes available to an investigation panel at the conclusion of an investigation,

(viii) prescribing the manner by which a complaint is provided from an investigation panel to a hearing panel and by which a matter is referred from an investigation panel to a hearing panel,

(ix) prescribing the content of and process to be followed with respect to settlement agreements,

(x) establishing processes for the conduct of hearings,

(xi) establishing the outcomes available to a hearing panel and the range of sanctions the panel may impose at the conclusion of the hearing;

(xii) establishing the form and content of any disclosure or publication of matters leading to or following a hearing or otherwise involving a registration sanction,

(xiii) respecting the imposition of publication bans or other orders respecting the openness of a hearing process,

(xiv) respecting awards of costs, including solicitor and client costs, and

(xv) establishing processes for the appeal of hearing panel decisions and orders;

(ii) the parties to a review, and

(iii) the information that must be provided by the decision-maker whose decision is under review by the Complaint Review Committee;

(ii) conduct a practice inspection of a registrant or registered firm with authority to establish selection criteria regarding which registrants or registered firms are to be subject to a practice inspection or the geographic area in which registrants or registered firms are to be subject to a practice inspection,

(iii) require a registrant or registered firm to do or refrain from doing any act,

(iv) retain inspectors,

(v) enter into agreements with extra-provincial regulatory bodies or other regulatory bodies,

(vi) recover costs incurred in conducting a practice inspection and such other costs as may be incurred by the committee in discharging its obligations under this Act or the by-laws,

(vii) notwithstanding Sections 64 and 65, share information with other committees of CPA Nova Scotia, the Chief Executive Officer or extra-provincial regulatory bodies or other regulatory bodies, and

(viii) stipulate such other powers and responsibilities as may be required for the maintenance and enforcement of professional standards;

(ii) the form, manner and timing of reporting of continuing professional development activities,

(iii) the undertaking of audits of member compliance with continuing professional development requirements,

(iv) the consequences that may result from a registrant's failure to satisfy the continuing professional development requirements,

(v) the right to disclose a registrant's failure to satisfy the continuing professional development requirements to any extra-provincial regulatory body of which the registrant is a member, candidate or student,

(vi) the mandate and powers of the Chief Executive Officer and committees of CPA Nova Scotia with respect to continuing professional development;

21 (1) The Chief Executive Officer shall keep a register or registers of individuals registered by CPA Nova Scotia and a register or registers of organizations registered or approved by CPA Nova Scotia, which registers must contain all of the information specified in the by-laws.

(2) The Chief Executive Officer shall make the registers referred to in subsection (1) available to the public upon request.

22 (1) The Board shall appoint a Registration Committee and a Registration Appeals Committee and the membership, power, authority and procedures of these committees must be set out in the by-laws.

(2) The Board shall appoint the Chair of the Registration Committee and the Chair of the Registration Appeals Committee.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer, the Registration Committee and the Registration Appeals Committee shall perform such registration functions as are set out in this Act and the by-laws.

(4) When performing such registration functions as are set out in this Act and the by-laws, the Registration Appeals Committee has all the rights, powers and privileges of a commissioner appointed pursuant to the Public Inquiries Act.

23 The Chief Executive Officer shall register any individual who

(a) was a member or registered student of CGANS, a member of CMANS or a member or registered student of ICANS immediately prior to the coming into force of this Act and who continues to meet all of the requirements for registration or continued registration in CPA Nova Scotia set out in the by-laws; or

(b) meets all of the requirements for registration or continued registration set out in the by-laws.

24 The Chief Executive Officer shall register any firm that

(a) was registered as a professional corporation or limited liability partnership by a legacy body or was a firm whose name had been approved by a legacy body, immediately prior to the coming into force of this Act; or

(b) qualifies for registration or continued registration as a registered firm pursuant to the by-laws.

25 (1) The privileges of those individuals and firms registered pursuant to Section 23 or 24 are as set out in the by-laws.

(2) Conditions or restrictions that applied to an individual or firm registered by a legacy body immediately prior to the coming into force of this Act continue to apply to the individual or firm when registered by CPA Nova Scotia.

(3) Without restricting the generality of subsection (2), any former member of a legacy body who did not fulfil the professional development hours required under the legacy body's Act remains obligated to satisfy those requirements and is subject to the jurisdiction of CPA Nova Scotia with respect to these unfulfilled requirements.

26 (1) When registering or renewing the registration of an individual or firm, the Chief Executive Officer shall register the individual or firm in the registration category in which the Chief Executive Officer, the Registration Committee or the Registration Appeals Committee determines the applicant qualifies for registration pursuant to the by-laws.

(2) The Chief Executive Officer or the Registration Committee may impose conditions or restrictions on an individual's or firm's registration on such terms and for such period as the Chief Executive Officer considers to be in the public interest.

27 A document signed by the Chief Executive Officer certifying that anything is or is not recorded in a register is admissible in evidence as prima facie proof of the matter certified, without proof of the signature or appointment of the Chief Executive Officer.

28 Where the Chief Executive Officer or the Registration Committee

(a) imposes conditions or restrictions on an applicant's registration; or

(b) refuses an application for registration,

the Chief Executive Officer shall notify the applicant of the decision to do so and of the registration appeal process set out in the by-laws.

29 The Chief Executive Officer shall renew the registration of a registrant or registered firm if the registrant or registered firm meets the registration renewal criteria specified in the by-laws.

30 The Chief Executive Officer may suspend the registration of a registrant or registered firm for failure to maintain any registration requirements set out in this Act or the by-laws.

31 (1) This Act and the by-laws continue to apply to a registrant or registered firm during the period of a suspension.

(2) An individual whose registration is suspended is not entitled to engage in the practice of chartered professional accounting nor to use a protected designation during the period of the suspension.

(3) A firm whose registration is suspended is not entitled to offer the services of a chartered professional accountant nor to use a protected designation during the period of the suspension.

32 Where the period of the suspension of a registrant or registered firm has expired, the conditions imposed on a registrant or registered firm have been satisfied or the restrictions imposed on a registrant or registered firm have been removed, the Chief Executive Officer shall restore the registration status to the registrant or registered firm in the form it existed before the imposition of the suspension, conditions or restrictions, if the registrant or registered firm otherwise meets the criteria for registration or, where the registration status has expired, the criteria for renewal of registration.

33 The Chief Executive Officer shall revoke the registration of a registrant or registered firm if a suspension imposed pursuant to Section 30 remains in effect for longer than the period specified by the by-laws.

34 (1) The by-laws must stipulate which suspensions imposed pursuant to Section 30 may be appealed to the Registration Appeals Committee.

(2) The Registration Appeals Committee shall follow the procedure for a suspension appeal set out in the by-laws.

(3) The decision of the Registration Appeals Committee is final.

35 (1) A member may use the designation "Chartered Professional Accountant" in English and "comptable professionnel agréé" in French or "CPA" after the member's name.

(2) An individual entitled to use a fellow designation by the Board or an extra-provincial regulatory body may use the designation "Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants" or "FCPA" after his or her name.

(3) An individual entitled to use an honorary designation by the Board or an extra-provincial regulatory body may use the designation "Honorary Chartered Professional Accountant" or "CPA (Hon)" after his or her name.

(4) The right of an individual or registered firm to use a protected designation pursuant to this Section is subject to any restrictions or conditions specified in this Act or the by-laws.

(5) An individual who is a member of an extra-provincial regulatory body may use or be required to use such designations or initials as are set out in the by-laws.

36 (1) In this Section, "mandatory tagging period" means a period of 10 years following the date of the coming into force of this Act or such shorter period as the Board may specify following the fifth anniversary of the coming into force of this Act.

(2) Where a member uses a protected designation and the member was entitled to use a legacy designation prior to the coming into force of this Act, the member shall use the legacy designation in conjunction with the protected designation for the mandatory tagging period.

(3) Where a member uses a protected designation and the member was entitled to use a legacy designation prior to the coming into force of this Act, the member may use the legacy designation in conjunction with the use of the protected designation at any time after the mandatory tagging period.

37 Members who were not entitled to use a legacy designation prior to the coming into force of this Act may not use a legacy designation.

38 No individual or organization other than a member or registered firm shall use a legacy designation or a protected designation nor any derivation or combination of those initials, words or expressions whether alone or in combination with other initials, words or expressions where it is used to imply that a person is entitled to practise as a chartered professional accountant nor imply that the individual or organization is registered by CPA Nova Scotia.

39 No individual shall use any legacy designation without the designation "Chartered Professional Accountant" or "CPA" being appended to it.

40 (1) No organization shall use a protected designation in its name, except as provided for in the by-laws.

(2) Subject to subsection 35(5),

(a) no individual other than an individual authorized by subsection 35(1) shall use the designation "Chartered Professional Accountant" in English, "comptable professionnel agréé" in French or "CPA";

(b) no individual other than an individual authorized by subsection 35(2) to use a fellow designation shall use the designation "Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants" or "FCPA"; and

(c) no individual other than an individual authorized by subsection 35(3) to use an honorary designation shall use the designation "Honorary Chartered Professional Accountant" or "CPA (Hon)".

(3) No individual shall use a fellow designation without the designation "Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants" or "FCPA" being appended to it.

(4) No individual shall use any honorary designation without the designation "Honorary Chartered Professional Accountant" or "CPA (Hon)" being appended to it.

(5) Subsection (2) does not apply to any individual who was resident in the Province immediately before the coming into force of this Act and who at that time was entitled by a regulator in a foreign jurisdiction to use

(a) the designation "chartered professional accountant", "certified public accountant", "CPA" or "FCPA", in upper or lower case, or an equivalent, either alone or in combination with any other words or letters;

(b) any name, title or description implying that he or she is a chartered professional accountant or certified public accountant; or

(c) any name, title, initials or descriptions implying that he or she is a certified accountant or a certified public accountant,

if such an individual appends to the designation "CPA" or "FCPA" such other designation as the Board may by by-law require.

(6) Subject to subsection (5), no individual or organization may use the designation "certified professional accountant" or "certified public accountant" alone or in combination with any other words.

(7) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if an individual or organization uses a term, title, initials, protected designation or description when making reference to authentic professional accounting qualifications or designations obtained by the individual or organization from a body in a foreign jurisdiction in

(a) a speech or other presentation given at a professional or academic conference or other similar forum;

(b) an application for employment or a private communication respecting the retainer of the individual's or organization's services, if the reference is made to indicate the individual's or organization's educational background; or

(c) a proposal submitted in response to a request for proposals, if the reference is made to demonstrate that the individual or organization meets the requirements for the work to which the request for proposals relates, if the individual or organization expressly indicates that the individual or organization is not a member of a legacy body.

41 (1) Subject to this Act and the by-laws, a member may offer professional services to the public through an organization.

(2) An organization that carries on the practice of public accounting in the Province must be a registered firm.

(3) A member may only carry on the practice of public accounting through an organization in the Province if the organization is a registered firm.

42 A member may only offer professional services through a corporation in the Province that

(a) carries on the practice of public accounting;

(b) uses any of the protected designations as part of the name or description of the corporation; or

(c) carries on any other activity specified in the by-laws as being an activity that, if undertaken to the extent specified in the by-laws, would cause the corporation to be considered a professional corporation for the purpose of this Act,

if the corporation is a registered firm and a professional corporation.

43 A member may only offer professional services through a limited liability partnership in the Province if the LLP is an approved LLP.

44 A firm shall not carry on any business in the Province unless it is registered by CPA Nova Scotia.

45 No person shall carry on any business through an organization that

(a) carries on the practice of public accounting;

(b) uses any of the protected designations as part of the name or description of the corporation; or

(c) carries on any other activity identified in the by-laws as being an activity that, if undertaken to the extent set out in the by-laws, would cause the organization to be considered a firm for the purpose of this Act,

unless the organization is a registered firm.

46 No person shall carry on the practice of chartered professional accounting through an LLP unless the LLP is an approved LLP.

47 An organization that ceases to be registered or approved by CPA Nova Scotia shall change its name to remove the words "chartered professional accountant" or "chartered professional accountants", the initials "CPA" or any legacy designation or any combination thereof used by the organization.

48 A registered firm shall not carry on any business or activity other than the provision of professional services authorized by its registration and the provision of other services directly associated with the provision of those services.

49 Sections 44 and 48 do not prohibit a registered firm from investing its own funds in real property, other than for development purposes, or in stocks, mutual funds, debt obligations, insurance, term deposits or similar investments.

50 No act of a professional corporation, including a transfer of property to or by the professional corporation, is invalid merely because it contravenes Section 44, 47 or 48.

51 This Act and the by-laws of CPA Nova Scotia apply to a registrant notwithstanding any relationship that the registrant may have with an organization.

52 The fiduciary, ethical and confidentiality obligations of a registrant to an individual receiving professional services

(a) are not diminished by the fact that the services are provided on behalf of an organization; and

(b) apply equally to an organization on whose behalf the services are provided and to its directors, officers and shareholders.

53 The liability of a registrant for a professional liability claim is not affected by the fact that the registrant is providing services on behalf of a registered firm or organization.

54 A registrant is jointly and severally liable with a professional corporation for all professional liability claims made against the corporation in respect of errors or omissions that were made or occurred while the registrant was a voting shareholder of the corporation.

55 Where the conduct of a registrant through whom an organization was providing professional services at the time the conduct occurred is the subject of an investigation, inquiry or inspection,

(a) any power that may be exercised pursuant to this Act with respect to the registrant may be exercised in respect of the organization; and

(b) the organization is jointly and severally liable with the registrant for all fines and costs the registrant is ordered to pay.

56 A restriction imposed on the practice of a registrant through whom a registered firm provides professional services applies to the firm in relation to its provision of professional services through the registrant.

57 CPA Nova Scotia, through the Chief Executive Officer or a committee appointed pursuant to the by-laws, may conduct inspections respecting the practices of registrants and registered firms under such circumstances and with such authority as is set out in the by-laws.

58 The Chief Executive Officer may appoint inspectors for the purpose of practice inspections.

59 (1) Every inspector who exercises powers pursuant to this Act shall, on request, produce written proof of the inspector's appointment.

(2) In conducting an inspection pursuant to this Act, an inspector may, with necessary modifications, exercise any of the powers conferred pursuant to Section 81.

(3) The results of a practice inspection must be dealt with in the manner set out in the by-laws.

60 No individual shall obstruct an inspector in the execution of the inspector's duties or withhold from the inspector or conceal, alter or destroy any document or thing relevant to the inspection.

61 No action or other proceeding may be instituted against CPA Nova Scotia, the Board, a committee, an investigator, an inspector, a member of the Board or of a committee established pursuant to this Act or the by-laws or any employee, officer, agent or individual acting on the instructions of any of them for anything done in good faith in the performance or intended exercise of any duty or power pursuant to this Act or the by-laws or for any alleged neglect or default in the performance or exercise in good faith of such duty or power.

62 No action or other proceeding may be instituted against a committee, an investigator, an inspector, a member of a committee established pursuant to the legacy body's Act or its by-laws or any employee, officer, agent or individual acting on the instructions of any of them for anything done in good faith in the performance or intended exercise of any duty or power pursuant to the legacy body's Act or its by-laws or for any alleged neglect or default in the performance or exercise in good faith of such a duty or power.

63 No action or other proceeding may be instituted against any person, including CPA Nova Scotia, as a result of the submission of a complaint or the disclosure of any information or any document pursuant to this Act, or anything contained in such complaint, information or document, unless the submission of the complaint or the disclosure is made in bad faith.

64 Every individual involved in the administration of this Act and any member of the Board or a committee of the Board who receives or has knowledge of confidential information shall not publish, release or disclose the information and shall maintain confidentiality with respect to all information that comes to that individual's knowledge, except

(a) as required for the administration of this Act or the by-laws or proceedings pursuant to this Act or the by-laws or to comply with the purpose of this Act;

(b) to one's own legal counsel;

(c) as otherwise required by law; or

(d) with the consent of the person to whom the information relates.

65 All complaints received or under investigation and all proceedings of the Complaints Committee must be kept confidential by CPA Nova Scotia.

66 Notwithstanding Sections 64 and 65,

(a) the Chief Executive Officer, or an individual designated by the Chief Executive Officer, may disclose to the public

(b) the Chief Executive Officer may disclose, with or without a request for disclosure, to an extra-provincial regulatory body or another regulatory body in which the registrant or registered firm complained of is a member, student or candidate or in which the firm is registered or by which the member, student, candidate or firm is regulated or registered

(c) the Chief Executive Officer may disclose to law enforcement authorities any information about possible criminal activity on the part of a registrant or registered firm;

(d) an investigation panel may authorize the Chief Executive Officer to release specific information to a specific individual or individuals if it is determined by an investigation panel that it is in the public interest to do so;

(e) the Chief Executive Officer may disclose information with respect to a complaint to a regulatory body in another jurisdiction if it is relevant and concerns the fitness of a registrant for membership in the other jurisdiction; and

(f) the Board may, by by-law, stipulate what other information with respect to matters relating to a registrant or registered firm may be disclosed or confirmed by CPA Nova Scotia.

67 There is a rebuttable presumption that a registered firm knows of any act, conduct, omission, matter or thing with respect to its members, employees or agents that, in the course of carrying out the business of the firm, breaches the code of professional conduct or the standards of practice of the profession.

68 The Chief Executive Officer, the Chair of the Complaints Committee, the Chair of the Discipline Committee and investigators shall perform such discipline process functions and have such discipline process authority as is set out in this Act and the by-laws.

69 The Board shall appoint a Complaints Committee composed of such number of members and public representatives as is set out in the by-laws.

70 The Complaints Committee shall perform such duties and have such authority as is set out in the by-laws.

71 (1) The Board shall appoint a Chair and a Vice-chair of the Complaints Committee.

(2) The Vice-chair shall act as Chair in the absence of the Chair.

(3) When, for any reason, neither the Chair nor the Vice-chair is available, the Board may appoint a member of the Complaints Committee to act as chair of the Committee.

72 A complaint may be made against any registrant or registered firm.

73 In Sections 66 and 68 to 112,

(a) "registrant" includes a former member, student or candidate of, or an individual whose name formerly appeared on a register maintained by, CPA Nova Scotia or a legacy body;

(b) "registered firm" includes

(a) ceasing to be registered by CPA Nova Scotia;

(b) ceasing to be a member of ICANS, CMANS or CGANS; and

(c) ceasing to be a registered student of ICANS,

unless it is determined that exceptional circumstances exist having regard to the risk to the public, which determination must be made in accordance with the process set out in the by-laws.

75 The Chief Executive Officer may refer information concerning potential professional misconduct, conduct unbecoming, professional incompetence or incapacity to the Chair of the Complaints Committee and such a referral by the Chief Executive Officer must be considered a complaint and addressed by the Chair of the Complaints Committee in the same manner as any other complaint received by the Chair of the Complaints Committee.

76 A complaint may only be withdrawn with the consent of the Chair of the Complaints Committee.

77 All complaints must be processed in the manner set out in the by-laws.

78 The Complaints Committee and each member of the Committee has all the powers conferred by this Act and the by-laws in the discharge of the Committee's or the member's functions and has all the powers, privileges and immunities of a commissioner appointed pursuant to the Public Inquiries Act.

79 (1) The Chair of the Complaints Committee shall, as required, appoint an investigation panel in accordance with the by-laws to perform such duties and have such authority as is set out in the by-laws.

(2) The Chair of the Complaints Committee may sit on an investigation panel and, in such case, shall act as the chair of the investigation panel.

(3) Where the Chair of the Complaints Committee is not appointed to an investigation panel, the Chair of the Complaints Committee shall appoint a chair of the investigation panel.

80 (1) The investigation panel may appoint investigators for the purpose of disciplinary matters and shall have the authority to fix the retainer, mandate and reporting requirements of any investigator.

(2) Every investigator who exercises powers pursuant to this Act shall, on request, produce written proof of the investigator's appointment.

81 (1) In conducting an investigation pursuant to this Act, an investigator may

(a) at any reasonable time, enter and inspect the business premises of the respondent under investigation, other than any part of the premises used as a dwelling, without the consent of the owner or occupier;

(b) question and require the respondent or anyone who works with the respondent to provide information that the investigator believes is relevant to the investigation;

(c) require the production of and examine any document or thing that the investigator believes is relevant to the investigation, including a client file;

(d) subject to the by-laws, require the production of any document or thing that the investigator believes is relevant to the investigation;

(e) subject to subsection (2), upon providing a receipt for the item, remove any document or thing that the investigator believes is relevant to the investigation for the purpose of making copies or extracts of any document or information; and

(f) use any data storage, processing or retrieval device or system in order to produce a document in readable form.

(2) The making of the copies or extracts pursuant to clause (1)(e) must be carried out with reasonable dispatch, taking into account the scope and complexity of the work involved in making the copies or extracts, and the document or thing must afterwards be returned promptly to the person from whom it was taken.

82 No individual shall obstruct an investigator executing the investigator's duties or withhold from the investigator or conceal, alter or destroy any document or thing relevant to the investigation.

83 Where, during an investigation, any matter arises or comes to the attention of an investigation panel that might form the subject matter of a charge or complaint against the respondent, the Committee may investigate that matter or thing that arises in the course of an investigation although the matter or thing was not mentioned in the original complaint.

84 (1) An investigation panel may order that the respondent's registration be suspended, or be subject to any restriction or condition that the investigation panel may specify pending, during or following the completion of an investigation and lasting until the suspension, restrictions or conditions are lifted, superseded or annulled by the investigation panel or a hearing panel, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that

(a) there is a risk of harm to members of the public or to the public interest; and

(b) making the order would likely reduce the risk.

(2) An order may be made pursuant to subsection (1) at any time without a hearing.

(3) The respondent must be served with a notice in writing, with reasons, of any decision made pursuant to subsection (1).

85 A respondent who receives written notice pursuant to subsection 84(3) may request in writing, within 30 days, an opportunity to meet with the investigation panel.

86 Where a request is received pursuant to Section 85, the investigation panel shall

(a) provide an opportunity for the respondent to meet with the investigation panel as soon as possible after receipt of the request; and

(b) after meeting with the respondent, confirm, vary or terminate the suspension, restrictions or conditions imposed pursuant to Section 84.

87 Following the investigation of a complaint by an investigation panel, the investigation panel may take such action as is set out in the by-laws.

88 An investigation panel shall provide the respondent and the complainant with such information relevant to the decision as is set out in the by-laws.

89 Where the respondent fails to comply with an order issued by an investigation panel, the Chief Executive Officer may take such action against the respondent as is set out in the by-laws.

90 The Board shall appoint a Discipline Committee composed of such number of members and public representatives as is set out in the by-laws.

91 The Discipline Committee shall perform such duties and have such authority as is set out in the by-laws.

92 (1) The Board shall appoint a Chair and a Vice-chair of the Discipline Committee.

(2) The Vice-chair shall act as Chair in the absence of the Chair.

(3) When, for any reason, neither the Chair nor the Vice-chair is available, the Board may appoint a member of the Discipline Committee to act as Chair of the Committee.

93 The Chief Executive Officer may, in the circumstances set out in the by-laws, refer information directly to the Chair of the Discipline Committee and such a referral by the Chief Executive Officer must be considered to be charges and must be addressed by the Chair of the Discipline Committee in the same manner as any charges referred to the Chair by an investigation panel.

94 After determining that all or part of a matter must be referred to the Discipline Committee, the Chief Executive Officer and the respondent may enter into a settlement agreement, which must conform to the requirements of the by-laws and which must be considered and approved by both the investigation panel and the hearing panel, if the matter was referred by an investigation panel, or by the hearing panel alone, as stipulated in the by-laws.

95 The Discipline Committee and each member of the Committee has all the powers conferred by this Act and the by-laws in the discharge of the Committee's or the member's functions as well as the powers, privileges and immunities of a commissioner under the Public Inquiries Act.

96 (1) The Chair of the Discipline Committee shall, as required, appoint a hearing panel in accordance with the by-laws to perform such duties and have such authority as is set out in the by-laws.

(2) The Chair of the Discipline Committee may sit on a hearing panel and, in such case, shall act as the chair of the hearing panel.

(3) Where the Chair of the Discipline Committee is not appointed to a hearing panel, the Chair of the Discipline Committee shall appoint a chair of the hearing panel.

97 A hearing panel shall conduct its hearings in the manner set out in the by-laws.

98 The parties to the hearing before the hearing panel are CPA Nova Scotia and the respondent.

99 (1) In a proceeding before a hearing panel, the parties have the right to

(a) natural justice;

(b) representation by legal counsel;

(c) the opportunity to present evidence and make submissions, including the right to cross-examine witnesses;

(d) disclosure of relevant information and documents as required by the by-laws; and

(e) receipt of written reasons for a decision within a reasonable time as prescribed by the by-laws.

(2) An individual who is the respondent or a representative of a registered firm that is the respondent is a compellable witness in a hearing before a hearing panel.

(3) A hearing panel shall hear each case in the manner it considers fit in order to provide a full and proper inquiry.

100 (1) An individual who is the respondent or a representative of the registered firm that is the respondent shall attend at the hearing before the hearing panel.

(2) In the event of non-attendance by an individual who is the respondent or a representative of the registered firm that is the respondent, the hearing panel, upon proof of service in accordance with the by-laws, may proceed with the hearing without further notice to the individual or firm, render its decision and take such other action as it is authorized to take pursuant to this Act.

101 (1) Following a hearing, the hearing panel may take such action and make any order as is authorized by the by-laws.

(2) The hearing panel may order costs against a respondent in accordance with the by-laws.

(3) The hearing panel shall issue a decision setting out its written reasons together with an order and shall provide the decision and order to the Chief Executive Officer of CPA Nova Scotia, the respondent and, subject to any publication bans, such other persons as the hearing panel may determine.

(4) The decision and order of a hearing panel have effect immediately upon service on the individual who is the respondent or representative of the registered firm that is the respondent or from such time as the decision may direct.

102 The decision of a panel of a committee constitutes the decision of the Discipline Committee.

103 (1) The Chief Executive Officer shall notify an individual respondent's employer, if any, of an order made respecting the individual by the Complaints Committee or of a determination or order made respecting the individual by the Discipline Committee.

(2) Where a respondent is subject to a registration sanction, the Chief Executive Officer may, subject to the terms of a decision of the Complaints Committee or the Discipline Committee, publish or disclose to the public particulars of the registration sanction in the manner it considers appropriate to inform the public and in accordance with the by-laws.

(3) Subject to any publication ban ordered by the Discipline Committee, the Chief Executive Officer may publish the Discipline Committee's decision or a summary of the decision by any means.

104 The Board shall appoint a Complaint Review Committee composed of such number of members and public representatives as is set out in the by-laws.

105 The Complaint Review Committee shall perform such duties and have such authority as is set out in the by-laws.

106 The Board shall appoint a Chair and a Vice-chair of the Complaint Review Committee.

107 (1) A complainant may seek a review of a dismissal of a complaint to the Complaint Review Committee.

(2) The review must be conducted in the manner set out in the by-laws.

(3) The Complaint Review Committee may consider a review request pursuant to subsection (1) even if the Complaint Review Committee has previously rendered a decision on a review of another complaint dismissal decision in respect of the same complaint or respondent.

(4) The decision of the Complaint Review Committee is final.

108 The Board may appoint a Fitness to Practise Committee which shall perform such duties and have such authority as is set out in the by-laws.

109 A registrant or registered firm whose application to resign from the register has been accepted by the Chief Executive Officer continues to be responsible for the consequences of any matter arising before the acceptance of the resignation and any process undertaken or underway pursuant to Sections 68 to 112 is not affected by the resignation.

110 Where a registrant or registered firm ceases to be registered for any reason, the registrant or registered firm remains subject to the jurisdiction of CPA Nova Scotia with respect to any disciplinary matter.

111 A party may appeal on any point of law from the decision or order of a hearing panel to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal within the time and in the manner specified in the by-laws.

112 Where a respondent does not comply with an order issued by a hearing panel within the time specified in the order and the period for an appeal has expired, the Chief Executive Officer may file a certified copy of the order with the Court, and enforce the order as if it were an order of the Court.

113 In Sections 114 to 119,

(a) "custodianship order" means an order made pursuant to subsection 114(1);

(b) "property" includes client files and other documents.

114 (1) Subject to subsection (5), on an application by CPA Nova Scotia, the Court may order that all or part of the property that is or should be in the possession or control of a member be given into the custody of a custodian appointed by the Court.

(2) A custodianship order applies to property, wherever it may be located, that is or should be in the possession or control of a member in connection with a member's practice or the business or affairs of a client or former client of the member.

(3) A custodianship order applies to property that is or should be in the possession or control of the member before or after the order is made.

(4) An application for a custodianship order may be made without notice.

(5) A custodianship order may only be made if

(a) the member's membership has been suspended or revoked;

(b) the member has died or disappeared;

(c) the member is incapacitated;

(d) the member has neglected or abandoned the member's practice without making adequate provision for the protection of the member's clients' interests;

(e) the member has failed to conduct the member's practice in accordance with any restriction or condition to which the member is subject pursuant to this Act;

(f) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the member has or may have dealt improperly with property; or

(g) there are reasonable grounds for believing that circumstances exist with respect to the member or the member's practice that make an application for a custodianship order necessary for the protection of the public.

115 A custodianship order may only be made for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) preserving the property;

(b) distributing or destroying the property;

(c) preserving or carrying on the member's practice;

(d) winding up the member's practice.

116 (1) The Court may appoint as custodian

(a) CPA Nova Scotia; or

(b) a member of CPA Nova Scotia who is not subject to a current registration sanction, conditions or restrictions imposed or otherwise suspended pursuant to this Act.

(2) Where CPA Nova Scotia is appointed as custodian, it may appoint an agent to act on its behalf.

117 A custodianship order may

(a) authorize the custodian to employ or engage any professional or other assistance that is required to carry out the custodian's duties;

(b) authorize the custodian or a sheriff or any police officer or other individual acting on the direction of the custodian or a sheriff to

(c) require a police officer to accompany the custodian or sheriff in the execution of the order;

(d) give directions to the custodian regarding the manner in which the custodian should carry out the order;

(e) require the member to account to CPA Nova Scotia and to any other individual named in the order for any property that the Court may specify;

(f) provide for the discharge of the custodian on completion of the custodian's duties under the order and any subsequent orders relating to the same matter; and

(g) give any other directions that the Court considers necessary in the circumstances.

118 In a custodianship order or on a subsequent application, the Court may make such award as it considers appropriate for the compensation of the custodian and the reimbursement of the custodian's expenses by the member, whether out of the property held by the custodian, by the member or the member's estate or otherwise as the Court may specify.

119 CPA Nova Scotia, the member or the custodian may apply to the Court to vary or discharge a custodianship order.

120 Sections 113 to 119 apply with necessary modifications with respect to an individual who resigns as a member of CPA Nova Scotia or whose membership is revoked.

121 (1) In this Section and Section 123,

(a) "civil proceeding" means any proceeding of a civil nature other than an arbitration proceeding or a proceeding before an adjudicative tribunal, board or commission of inquiry; and

(b) "legal proceeding" means any civil proceeding, discovery, inquiry, proceeding before a tribunal, board or commission or arbitration, in which evidence may be given, and includes an action or proceeding for the imposition of punishment by fine, penalty or imprisonment for the contravention of a Provincial enactment, but does not include any proceeding or hearing conducted pursuant to or arising from this Act or the by-laws or by an extra-provincial regulatory body or other body regulating the practice of public accounting.

(2) A witness in a legal proceeding, whether a party to the proceeding or not, shall not offer evidence with respect to information obtained, gathered or given by the witness as a result of a registration, registration appeal, investigation, disciplinary hearing, fitness to practise or practice inspection process of CPA Nova Scotia, and shall not offer any evidence concerning and is excused from producing any complaint, response, report, statement, memorandum, recommendation, document or information prepared for any such process, including information gathered in the course of any such process or admitted into evidence in any such process.

122 Section 121 does not apply to documents or records that have been made available to the public by CPA Nova Scotia.

123 Unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, a decision issued pursuant to disciplinary proceedings, a practice inspection or reinstatement, or a complaint, response, report, statement, memorandum, recommendation, document or information prepared for the purpose of the investigative, disciplinary, fitness to practise, hearing and practice inspection processes of CPA Nova Scotia, including information gathered in the course of an investigation or produced for an investigation panel, a hearing panel, the Fitness to Practise Committee or staff members of CPA Nova Scotia, is not admissible in a civil proceeding other than in an appeal or a review pursuant to this Act.

124 Where, as a result of the discipline process, an individual or firm is no longer registered by CPA Nova Scotia, the individual or firm may apply to the Registration Committee for reinstatement of registration by CPA Nova Scotia unless otherwise ordered or agreed to between CPA Nova Scotia and the individual or firm.

125 (1) The Registration Committee shall review applications for reinstatement and perform such other duties and have such authority as is set out in this Act and the by-laws.

(2) Applications for reinstatement must proceed in accordance with the by-laws.

(3) Where a reinstatement application has been approved by the Registration Committee, the Committee shall

(a) determine whether publication of the reinstatement is required in the interest of the public; and

(b) direct the Chief Executive Officer to register the individual or firm subject to any restrictions and conditions it considers appropriate with respect to the reinstatement of the applicant.

(4) An applicant for reinstatement is responsible for all of the applicant's own expenses incurred in the reinstatement application and proceeding, and is also responsible for all of the costs incurred by CPA Nova Scotia in the reinstatement application and proceeding, whether the application is accepted, rejected or withdrawn.

126 In a proceeding before the Registration Committee, an applicant has the right to

(a) representation by legal counsel or another representative at the applicant's expense; and

(b) a reasonable opportunity to present a response and make submissions.

127 Unless otherwise ordered or agreed, an application for reinstatement must not be made earlier than

(a) two years after the revocation; and

(b) six months after any previous application.

128 The decision of the Registration Committee is final.

129 The Registration Committee may direct the Chief Executive Officer to file an order for costs issued by the Registration Committee in the Court and, once filed, the order may be enforced in the same manner as a judgment of the Court.

130 (1) An individual or organization that contravenes Section 38, 39 or 40 or subsection 49(1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction

(a) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $5,000; and

(b) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $10,000.

(2) Where a corporation contravenes this Act, a director or an officer of the corporation who authorized, permitted or acquiesced in the contravention is also guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to the penalties set out in subsection (1), whether or not the corporation has been prosecuted or convicted.

(3) Where an offence under this Act is committed or continued on more than one day, the person who committed the offence is liable to be convicted for a separate offence for each day on which the offence is committed or continued.

(4) Unless the court directs otherwise, fines payable under this Section as a result of a prosecution by or on behalf of the Board are payable to Her Majesty in right of the Province.

(5) For greater certainty, any information to be laid pursuant to this Act may be laid or made by the Chief Executive Officer or other individual designated by the Board.

(6) In a prosecution of an offence contrary to this Act, the onus to prove that an individual accused of an offence has the right to practise chartered professional accounting, or that an individual comes within any of the exemptions provided by this Act, is on the individual accused.

(7) For the purpose of this Act, proof of the performance of one act in the practice of chartered professional accounting is sufficient to establish that an individual has engaged in the practice of chartered accounting.

131 (1) In the event of a threatened or continuing contravention of this Act, CPA Nova Scotia may apply to a judge for an injunction to restrain the person from continuing or committing the contravention and the judge, where the judge considers it to be just, may grant such an injunction.

(2) A judge may, on an application, grant an interim injunction pending the hearing of an application for an injunction pursuant to subsection (1) if the judge is satisfied that there is reason to believe that a person is likely to commit or is continuing to commit a contravention of this Act.

132 An application for registration made to a legacy body commenced but not concluded before the coming into force of this Act must be dealt with pursuant to this Act.

133 Any order or direction given by any legacy body, its chief executive officer or any committee thereof continues as if made pursuant to this Act or by-laws.

134 Any ICANS or CGANS practice inspection or proceeding before ICANS's or CGANS's Professional Standards Committee commenced before the coming into force of this Act must, unless the individual who is the subject of the practice inspection or proceeding and the Chief Executive Officer of CPA Nova Scotia otherwise agree, be concluded pursuant to the applicable Act, as if this Act had not come into force.

135 A complaint made or disciplinary proceeding commenced before the coming into force of this Act must, unless the respondent and Chief Executive Officer otherwise agree, be concluded pursuant to the applicable Act, as if this Act had not come into force.

136 Where agreement is reached pursuant to Section 134 or 135 to proceed pursuant to this Act, the process and authority under this Act must be adapted as nearly as possible to fit the circumstances of the matter commenced pursuant to the applicable Act.

137 A complaint made after the coming into force of this Act, concerning conduct that occurred before the coming into force of this Act, must be dealt with pursuant to this Act.

138 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations defining or further defining any word or expression used but not defined in this Act.

(2) The exercise by the Governor in Council of the authority contained in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.

139 Clause 2(d) of Chapter 33 of the Acts of 2010, the Auditor General Act, is amended by striking out "Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants" in the second and third lines and substituting "Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada".

140 Subsection 20(1) of Chapter 33 is amended by striking out "Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants" in the second and third lines and substituting "Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada".

141 Chapter 10 of the Acts of 1998, the Certified General Accountants Act, is repealed.

142 Chapter 35 of the Acts of 2005, the Certified Management Accountants of Nova Scotia Act, is repealed.

143 Chapter 154 of the Acts of 1900, the Chartered Accountants Act, is repealed.

144 Subsection 119B(2) of Chapter 81 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Companies Act, as enacted by Chapter 15 of the Acts of 1990, is amended by striking out "Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants" in the fifth and sixth lines and substituting "CPA Canada Handbook".

145 Subsection 122(1) of Chapter 81, as enacted by Chapter 15 of the Acts of 1990, is amended by striking out "Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants" in the fifth, sixth and seventh lines and substituting "CPA Canada Handbook".

146 Sub-article 186(2) of Table A in the First Schedule to Chapter 81, as enacted by Order in Council 1991-828, is amended by striking out "Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants" in the second and third lines and substituting "CPA Canada Handbook".

147 Subsection 105(2) of Chapter 4 of the Acts of 1994, the Credit Union Act, is amended by striking out "Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants" in the sixth and seventh lines and substituting "CPA Canada Handbook".

148 Subsection 116(2) of Chapter 4 is amended by striking out "Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants" in the sixth and seventh lines and substituting "CPA Canada Handbook".

149 Subsection 119(2) of Chapter 4 is amended by striking out "Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants" in the third and fourth lines and substituting "CPA Canada Handbook".

150 The former Act is repealed.

151 Subsection 57(1) of Chapter 11 of the Acts of 2012, the Mortgage Regulation Act, is amended by

(a) striking out "CICA Handbook-Assurance" in the third and fourth lines of clause (a) and substituting "CPA Canada Handbook"; and

(b) striking out "CICA Handbook-Assurance" in the fourth and fifth lines of clause (b) and substituting "CPA Canada Handbook".

152 Clause 2(2)(i) of Chapter 25 of the Acts of 1998, the Real Estate Appraisers Act, is amended by adding "Professional" immediately after "Chartered" in the last line.

153 Section 141 of Chapter 7 of the Acts of 1991, the Trust and Loan Companies Act, is amended by striking out "of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants set out in the Handbook published by that Institute as amended from time to time" in the last three lines and substituting "found in the CPA Canada Handbook".

154 Subsection 145(1) of Chapter 7 is amended by striking out "of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants set out in the Handbook published by that Institute as amended from time to time" in the last three lines and substituting "found in the CPA Canada Handbook".

155 This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.