Definitions

(unless otherwise specified, all references to "Sections" are to sections of these Bylaws)

1. In these Bylaws: "Act" means the Professional Governance Act

"Agrologist" means an individual who is registered with the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists (BCIA) as an Agrologist in accordance with the Professional Governance Act (SBC 2018) ("PGA") in one of the categories of registration authorized by these Bylaws;

"Applicant" means a person who applies for enrollment in an articling or other training program offered by the BCIA or for admission or reinstatement as a Registrant of the BCIA;

"Audit and Practice Review Committee" means the standing committee established under these Bylaws;

"BCIA" means the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists as continued under Part 7 Division 1 of the PGA;

"Branch" means an administrative division of the BCIA established by the BCIA within a specific geographical area of British Columbia, consisting of Registrants assigned to the respective Branch by the BCIA;

"Board, " when used in these Bylaws, refers to the Council of BCIA as defined in the PGA;

"Board Member, " when used in these Bylaws, refers to a member of the Council as defined in the PGA;

"Chair, " when used in these Bylaws, refers to the President of the Council as used in the PGA;

"Chief Executive Officer/CEO" is an acceptable alternate title for a person appointed as the Executive Officer of the BCIA in accordance with the PGA;

"Citation" means an order of the Investigation Committee issued under Section 113 outlining the date, location, and matters to be adjudicated in a hearing before the Discipline Committee;

"Code of Ethics" means the stipulation of accepted ethical behaviour expected of Registrants in their professional interaction with the BCIA, other Registrants, and the general public as indicated in Schedule A to these Bylaws as amended from time to time;

"Complainant" means a person(s) who files a complaint with the BCIA against a Registrant;

"Conduct unbecoming a Registrant" is as defined under Section 1(1) of the PGA;

"Consent Order" means a written agreement signed by a Registrant pursuant to the practice review, complaint, or discipline aspects of these Bylaws, which confirms the Registrants consent to the requirements, obligations, or other remedial actions as outlined in these Bylaws;

Definitions

"Council" means the governing body of the BCIA continued under Section 84 of the PGA;

"Councillor" in accordance with Section 26 of the PGA means a Registrant elected or appointed to the Council of the BCIA under these Bylaws;

"Credentials Committee" means the standing committee established under these Bylaws;

"Days" means calendar days unless otherwise expressly stipulated in these Bylaws;

"Deputy Registrar" means an individual staff member of the BCIA that, in accordance with Section 31(2) of the PGA, is authorized by the BCIA to conduct specific tasks and duties that are within the duties of the Register as appointed under the PGA;

"Discipline Committee" means the standing committee established under these Bylaws;

"Electronic Means" refers to digital processes by which information is provided to, received from, or exchanged between Registrants, the BCIA, the Board, Committees, and the general public and includes but is not limited to the holding of virtual BCIA, Board or Committee meetings, proceedings or hearings;

"Emergency Meeting" means a meeting of the Board called to address any matter which cannot be administered or resolved in accordance with these Bylaws and/or matters which must be addressed prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board in order to maintain compliance the PGA or maintain the regular operations of BCIA;

"Executive Director" means the Chief Executive Officer of the BCIA who, for all purposes of the PGA, is deemed to be an authorized officer of BCIA;

"In-camera" refers to a portion of a meeting of the Board, a BCIA committee, or of the BCIA that, pursuant to an approved motion, is conducted in private with only Board Members, committee members, or BCIA Registrants respectively, plus invited guests in attendance. Matters that may be discussed in-camera include:  Human resources;  Complaint, discipline, litigation, and liability issues;  Any matter the public disclosure of which may constitute an infringement of any then-current federal or provincial protection or privacy legislation;  Audit reports and budgetary deliberations, or  Any matter recommended by the BCIA legal advisors, who must be members in good standing of the Law

Society of British Columbia, as requiring an in-camera session.

Definitions

"Incompetent" is as defined in Section 1(1) of the PGA;

"In good standing" means the registration of a Registrant is not suspended or subject to conditions imposed under the PGA or these Bylaws;

"Investigation Committee" means the standing committee established under these Bylaws;

"Lay Board Member" means an individual who is not a Registrant of BCIA and is appointed to the Board pursuant to Section 27 of the PGA;

"Nomination Committee" means the standing committee established under these Bylaws;

"OSPG" means the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance established under Part 2 of the PGA;

"Panel" means a group of at least three persons which is established as an adjudicative body to determine matters as delegated by the Board or a standing committee of the BCIA in accordance with these Bylaws;

"PGA" means the Professional Governance Act (S.B.C.) 2018 Ch. 13;

"Practice Audit" means an assessment of a Registrant's professional practices and may include but is not limited to a review of their declared professional development hours and a review of their competence in their respective declared field(s) of expertise;

"Past-Chair" means the person who served as Chair of the BCIA in the term immediately prior to the current Chair;

"Professional misconduct" is as defined in Section 1(1) of the PGA;

"Qualifying hours" means hours of professional development activities which satisfy current criteria as approved by the Board;

"RRAC" means a Reprimand and Remedial Action by Consent agreement pursuant to Section 72 of the PGA;

Definitions

"Registrant" includes all persons and firms licensed by the BCIA in accordance with the PGA to practice the profession of agrology (as defined in the Agrologist Regulation attached as a schedule to the PGA) within the province of British Columbia and includes: (a) An individual who has been granted an agrology professional designation in accordance with these Bylaws; (b) Unless specified herein, does not include student members, honourary members, nor any other individual who is registered with any other regulatory body subject to the PGA;

"Registrant Board Member" in accordance with Section 26 of the PGA means a Registrant elected or appointed to the Board of the BCIA under these Bylaws;

"Regional Electoral District" means geographical regions of British Columbia where the BCIA Branches, as defined in these Bylaws, are located;

"Registrar" means the Registrar of the BCIA appointed under Section 31(1) of the PGA;

"Register" means a public listing on the BCIA website of information pertaining to each former and current Registrant of the BCIA maintained in accordance with these Bylaws and guidance or directives of the OSPG;

"Regulated Practice" means the practice of agrology carried on by Registrants as defined in Schedules to the PGA;

"Respondent" means the Registrant whose conduct or competence is or may be the subject of an investigation;

"Student Member" means an individual who is not a Registrant and who is currently participating in postsecondary education respecting the practice of agrology;

"Terms of Reference" means the written operational policies approved by the Board for each standing committee, special committee, or working group established under the PGA or these Bylaws;

"Trainee" means a person engaged in an instructional program authorized by BCIA, the completion of which is a requirement for achieving or maintaining Registrant status;

"Vice Chair" means the person elected or appointed by the Board in accordance with these Bylaws who will become the Chair upon the expiration of the term of the then-current Chair.

"Year" means the period of January 1 to December 31