Table of Contents

Appeals Requirements. 
Complaints Requirements. 
Disciplinary Committee. 
Events & Professional Development Committee
Finance Committee 
Events & Professional Development Committee. 
Marketing and Communications Committee. 
Nominations & Elections. 
Professional Requirements. 
Registration Committee. 
Review Committee. 

Appeals Requirements

Type of Committee: Ad-hoc Committee, with a Standing Chair.

Vision: To be developed by the committee and submitted for approval by the Board of Directors

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Appeals Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, Appeal hearings will be open to the public. The Committee will meet as required.

Committee Functions:

1. On receipt of an appeal from a party to a Disciplinary Committee Decision, review the said Decision for legal correctness;
2. Confirm the Decision, reject the appeal or amend the Decision in any manner that the Discipline Committee had the power to make.

Complaints Requirements

Type of Committee: Standing Committee.

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Complaints Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Due to the confidential nature of its deliberations, meetings of this Committee are not open for general attendance. The Committee will meet as required.

Committee Functions:

1. Receives complaints with respect to a Registrant from the Board of Directors;
2. Reviews and investigates the complaint to determine if the complaint has sufficient merit to refer to the Discipline Committee.

Disciplinary Committee

Type of Committee: Ad-hoc Committee, with a Standing Chair.

Vision: To bring professionalism among members and Registrants by the inculcation of best practices.

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Disciplinary Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, Disciplinary hearings will be open to the public. The Committee will meet as required.

Committee Functions: Established in accordance with Section 5(2) of the Act.

1. Receives recommendations from the Complaints Committee to determine the validity of a charge against a Registrant;
2. Acting as an independent tribunal holds a hearing to allow all parties to state their case, call all relevant evidence and make legal submissions prior to determining if the Registrant is guilty or not guilty according to the laws of Ontario and Canada;
3. In the event the Registrant is found guilty of any charge, to impose a penalty provided by law;
4. Render a Decision providing its reasons for its findings and basis for any penalty imposed in accordance with the law.

Events & Professional Development Committee Terms of Reference

Type of Committee: Standing Committee.

Vision: Support the development and execution of professional development events for members in effort to help them grow and succeed in their careers and create connections.

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Events & Professional Development Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Any member of the Institute may request, through the Secretary, permission to attend. The Committee will meet as required.

Committee Functions: Established in accordance with Section 5(2) of the Act.

1. Assists, as required, in the planning of the AGM, multibranch activities, and external Agriculture events;
2. Organizes and coordinates professional development activities;
3. Facilitates in the assigning of mentors to A.Ag. members, upon request.

Finance Committee Terms of Reference

Type of Committee: Standing Committee.

Vision: Oversight and analysis leading to responsible stewardship of the OIA’s financial resources.

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Finance Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Any member of the Institute may request, through the Secretary, permission to attend. In camera sessions of this Committee are restricted to its members. The Committee will meet as required (audit review and budget setting).

Committee Functions: Established in accordance with Section 5(2) of the Act.

1. Monitors OIA finances throughout the year to ensure targets are being achieved;
2. Prepares annual budgets for OIA that use funds in the most efficient and effective manner.

Events & Professional Development Committee

Type of Committee: Standing Committee. 

Vision: Support the development and execution of professional development events for members in effort to help them grow and succeed in their careers and create connections. 

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Events & Professional Development Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Any member of the Institute may request, through the Secretary, permission to attend. The Committee will meet as required. 

Committee Functions: Established in accordance with Section 5(2) of the Act.

1. Assists, as required, in the planning of the AGM, multibranch activities, and external Agriculture events;
2. Organizes and coordinates professional development activities;
3. Facilitates in the assigning of mentors to A.Ag. members, upon request. 

Marketing and Communications Committee

Type of Committee: Standing Committee.

Vision: Increase awareness and credibility of designations in the marketplace, increase demand for registrants’ services, and create advocacy to advance the vision and mission of the Institute.

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Marketing & Communications Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Any member of the Institute may request, through the Secretary, permission to attend. The Committee will meet as required.

Committee Functions:

1. Recommend key messages supporting the value of Professional and Technical Agrologists to the public.
2. Recommend and facilitate regular communications through external channels to the industries supported by the designated scopes of practice of Agrology in Ontario.
3. Ensure messaging content and composition is provided in an accessible, consistent and professional manner for OIA registrants, OIA Branches, and the OIA Office to use for Internal and External communications.
4. Act as a resource for all parties above to review messaging under development and recommend ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their communications efforts.

Nominations & Elections

Type of Committee: Standing Committee.

Vision: To ensure that fair and open processes are followed for OIA’s nominations, elections and appointments, as well as a well-informed and participatory membership.

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Nominations & Elections Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Due to the confidential nature of its deliberations, meetings of this Committee are not open for general attendance. The Committee will meet as required.

Committee Functions: Established in accordance with Section 5(2) of the Act.

1. Recruits members to run for positions on the Provincial Board of Directors, Local Branch Executives, and Provincial Committees;
2. Oversees the nominations and elections processes.

Professional Requirements

Type of Committee: Ad-hoc Committee, with a Standing Chair.

Vision: To be developed by the committee and submitted for approval by the Board of Directors

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Professional Requirements Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Any member of the Institute may request, through the Secretary, permission to attend. The Committee will meet as required.

Committee Functions:

1. Ensures that OIA’s requirements for Professional Agrologists are consistent with the OIA Act (2013) and the OIA By-Laws;
2. Reviews any issues, regarding professional requirements, as they arise, or at a minimum of every 5 years.

Registration Committee

Type of Committee: Standing Committee.

Vision: To develop, establish and maintain standards of qualification for persons to be issued certificates of registration or advancement to P.Ag. or T.Ag. designation status after completing the articling requirements.

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Registration Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Due to the confidential nature of its deliberations, meetings of this Committee are not open for general attendance. The Committee will meet virtually every quarter at a minimum, or more frequently when required, to review applications. Frequency is dependent on the number of open applications and requests for advancements.

Committee Functions: Established in accordance with Section 5(2) of the Act.

1. Assesses and provides recommendations to the Board on new or advancing Registrants based on admissions requirements listed in Section 5.E. of the OIA By-Laws 2023;
2. Establishes an application form.

Review Committee

Type of Committee: Standing Committee.

Vision: The OIA will have an appropriate documented governance framework to facilitate efficient and effective performance of its objectives.

Meetings of the Committee: A meeting of the Review Committee is not considered as a general meeting of the Institute. Any member of the Institute may request, through the Secretary, permission to attend. The Committee will meet at least once every year, or more frequently as required to accomplish any ongoing tasks, as well as in response to direct requests from the Board.

Committee Functions: Established in accordance with Section 5(2) of the Act.

1. Review, and update as required, the By-Laws of the OIA, with respect to the OIA Act (2013) and the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 (ONCA), as well as the evolving professional 'environment’;
2. Develop proposals for any required changes to the OIA Act (2013) and its successor;
3. Coordinate any reviews of OIA Member satisfaction.