It is much more stringent. It is very focused on the protection of clients. It sets up for the first time a compensation fund so that people who are wronged can have access to some sort of a financial remedy. It also sets up mandatory insurance for the members.
It really tightens the disciplinary process. In the current regime, there is no authority to compel witnesses, for example, to appear and to give testimony. In the proposed approach, the college will have the statutory authority to summon witnesses to appear and to testify. There will be consequences for obstructing the complaint and discipline process.
There will be a new prohibition on using the title “immigration consultant” or “citizenship consultant”. Right now, if the regulatory body wants to enter the premises of a consultant who's suspected of engaging in activity that is not within the bounds of the body, it requires the co-operation and the consent of the member to enter those premises. In the proposed approach, the college will have the statutory authority to enter the premises of the consultant for the purposes of investigations of misconduct, to search the premises, to seize documents, to require documents or to require that information be provided to the college.