Hearings
The Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals is responsible for quality pharmacy care in the interest of protecting the public. This includes investigating and resolving complaints involving pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and/or pharmacies.
At the conclusion of an investigation into a complaint, the Complaints Committee will vote on a motion as to whether it should be recommended that the complaint proceed to a disciplinary hearing.
Hearings follow a format that is similar in formality to a trial by judge in provincial court. The “judge” in this case is a panel of impartial public members and peers as appointed by Council, called the Discipline Committee.
The Committee hears evidence and determines whether the allegations resulting from the complaint investigation are valid and if so, determines if the actions or omissions of the investigated person(s) amounts to professional incompetence and/or professional misconduct and/or proprietary misconduct.
Hearings are generally open to the public unless the Discipline Committee determines otherwise. The Discipline Committee may exclude members of the public and the person who made the complaint from any part of the hearing when the committee is of the opinion that evidence brought in the presence of the person or persons to be excluded will unduly violate the privacy of a person other than the member or proprietor whose conduct is the subject of the hearing.
The schedule of upcoming hearings is posted below.
Hearings will take place in person or by video conference using the Webex platform. For participants and observers, instructions for joining a Webex meeting can be found here. Rules and registration details for observers can be found below.
- Observers must arrive 15 minutes before the posted start time of the hearing.
- Observers must register at reception upon arrival and may be asked to wear an Observer name tag. Observers are permitted access to public areas and will have limited access to the hearing room.
- Observers must not use cameras or recording devices in the hearing room. All communication devices including cell phones and portable computers must be turned off and remain off while inside the hearing room.
- No external food or drink is allowed in the hearing room.
- Members of the media must identify themselves to the hearing director.
- Observers are not permitted to address the members of the discipline committee panel (in or out of session) and must remain quiet during the proceedings.
- Observers must leave the hearing room for the duration of every recess, during a meal break and for any portion of a hearing held in private, and when the Committee deliberates. During these times, observers are restricted to public areas of the building.
- If an observer needs to leave the hearing room for any reason while the hearing is in session, he/she will not be permitted to return to the room until the end of the next recess.
- During brief recesses, observers may sit quietly in the SCPP reception area, space permitting, but may not discuss the hearing or disrupt the daily work of SCPP staff.
- When an observer leaves the hearing with no intention of returning, he/she must sign out at reception and return the observer nametag.
- Observers must join the video-conference 10 minutes before the scheduled start time of the hearing.
- Observers must keep video off and audio muted unless asked a question by the discipline committee panel.
- Observers are to position themselves in a distraction-free private location and may be asked to leave the hearing if their video presence is causing a distraction to the process.
- Members of the media must identify themselves to the hearing director.
- Observers are not permitted to use cameras or recording devices during the hearing.
- Observers are not permitted to address the members of the discipline committee panel (in or out of session) and must remain silent during the proceedings.
- During recesses, participants are to log out of the meeting and log back in at the announced scheduled restart time.
- If an observer needs to leave the hearing for any reason while the hearing is in session, he/she will not be permitted to return to the hearing until the end of the next recess.
- Observers must pre-register at least 24 hours before the hearing. Space is limited for in-person hearings and assigned by reservation on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no maximum for online observers.
- Contact the College by emailing info@saskpharm.ca to pre-register.
- Hearings are normally held at the SCPP office at Suite 100 - 1964 Park St., Regina, SK.
- For video or audio hearings, observers will be sent an invite with a link to join the hearing within 24 hours of the scheduled start time. The College will endeavor to ensure that discipline hearings held by alternative means are nonetheless accessible to the public, unless otherwise stated.
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Hearing schedules are subject to change. Please check this page for current hearing information and to confirm location, date, and start time.