ROLE OF CPA IN RESPONDING TO COMPLAINTS OF UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR

What is the role of CPA in responding to complaints of unethical behaviour against its Members or Affiliates?

In brief, the CPA does not have a role in responding to direct complaints of unethical behaviour against its Members or Affiliates.

The CPA is a national, voluntary association whose Members or Affiliates include scientists, practitioners, and educators in Psychology.  The CPA does not certify, license, or regulate its Members to practice in Canada. That is the responsibility of provincial/territorial regulatory bodies of Psychology under their respective statutory laws (for a list of those bodies, please visit: https://cpa.ca/public/whatisapsychologist/regulatorybodies/).

The CPA does not investigate complaints of alleged unethical behaviour against its Members or Affiliates. This is based on the fact that the CPA does not have regulatory authority or jurisdiction over the research, teaching, or practice of psychology in Canada. This is also based on the principle that fairness and justice are best served when investigation and review of complaints are carried out as close as possible to the parties and situation by bodies with the legal mandate, resources, and structures to do so.

For the same reasons, the CPA does not contest or re-adjudicate complaints that already have been processed by an appropriate external body (e.g., a professional regulatory body, a university disciplinary committee, a court of law).  In the case of a substantiated complaint against one of its Members or Affiliates, the CPA reviews the findings of the external body and decides whether the individual subject to that complaint can remain a Member or Affiliate of the CPA.