Particulars of an immediate suspension and refusal to renew registration

S. 49 (1) Private Career Colleges Act, 2005 ("Act")

Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Advanced Education Learner Supports Division
Office of the Superintendent
Private Career Colleges Branch
77 Wellesley Street West
Box 977
Toronto ON
M7A 1N3

January 14, 2020

These particulars are posted following the expiry of the 15-day period for Ottawa Aviation Services Inc. to require a hearing of the Licence Appeal Tribunal under s.19(3) of the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005 ("the Act"). On December 12, 2019, the Superintendent issued a Notice of Proposal to Refuse to Renew Registration for Ottawa Aviation Services Inc. for which Ottawa Aviation Services Inc. did not file a notice to the Licence Appeal Tribunal within the 15-day period. The proposal to refuse to renew Ottawa Aviation Services Inc.'s registration was therefore carried out on December 28, 2019 pursuant to s. 19(4) of the Act.

Original service date: December 12, 2019

Cedric Paillard, Director
Ottawa Aviation Services Inc.
1-220 Hunt Club Road,
Ottawa, ON

Reasons for decisions:

Pursuant to clause 20(2)(a) of the Act, the Superintendent suspended the registration of Ottawa Aviation Services Inc. for the immediate protection of the interests of its students or prospective students for the following reasons:

  1. Findings demonstrated recurrent contraventions related to student protection matters. Despite education and progressive enforcement activities provided by designates of the Superintendent, OAS remained in a persistent state of non-compliance creating risk to students.
  2. Evidence indicated that Ottawa Aviation Services OAS was in a financially precarious state and was no longer able to provide vocational programs as approved. OAS has been financially exploiting students in attempt to create more working capital to meet daily financial obligations. A significant number of students have been unable to progress in their vocational programs yet required to continue paying for training the school cannot provide. OAS has failed to provide receipts or statements to students accounting for how their fees were being applied and subsequently refused to return unearned funds when students attempted to withdraw, creating financially damaging circumstances for students.
  3. The financial state of OAS provides grounds for concern regarding the ongoing safety of student pilots in relation to aircraft maintenance, lack of access to fuel and de-icing fluids and with some students, possible loss of housing.

Pursuant to subsection 19(1)a of the Act, the Superintendent of Private Career Colleges refused to renew Ottawa Aviation Service lnc.'s registration for the following reasons:

  1. The Superintendent could no longer be satisfied that Ottawa Aviation Services Inc. will operate a private career college in compliance with the Act and its regulations pursuant to clauses 18(2)(a) and (c) under the Act, read together with clause 14(1)(b) of the Act. In particular, Ottawa Aviation Services Inc. has failed to comply with the following provisions of the Act and its regulations:

Private Career Colleges Act, 2005

  • 6 Financial Security
  • 28(2) Copy to student (contract)
  • 38(10) Obstruction

Ontario Regulation 415/06

  • 5(2) Conditions of registration: insurance
  • 16(1)3 Advertising and records content
  • 20(1)3 & 6 Contract terms
  • 20(1)2 Contract terms
  • 20.1 Copy of Contract
  • 23 Copies of Contracts
  • 36.0.2(3) Sexual violence policy
  • 43(1) Itemized list of fees
  • 44(1) Charging Fees
  • 44(7) Receipts
  • 45(1)4 Student files
  • 45(1)6 Student files
  • 45(2) Student files
  1. The Superintendent can no longer be satisfied that the conduct of the director of Ottawa Aviation Services Inc. provides grounds for the belief that the private career college will be operated in accordance with the law and with integrity and honesty pursuant to clause 18(2)(a) of the Act, read together with clause 14(1)(e) of the Act. In particular:
  1. Evidence indicated that OAS was in a financially precarious state and was no longer able to provide vocational programs as approved. OAS has been financially exploiting students in attempt to create more working capital to meet daily financial obligations. A significant number of students have been unable to progress in their vocational programs yet required to continue paying for training the school cannot provide. OAS has failed to provide receipts or statements to students accounting for how their fees were being applied and subsequently refused to return unearned funds when students attempted to withdraw, creating financially damaging circumstances for students.

  2. The director of OAS, Cedric Paillard, has, and continues to engage in a pattern of providing false and misleading information to the Superintendent and designates.

Superintendent's action

On December 28, 2019, the Superintendent carried out the proposal to refuse to renew the registration of Ottawa Aviation Services Inc.