AT its November meeting, the CDO Board of Directors voted to join with the Health Professions Discipline Tribunal (HPDT), effective December 1, 2025, for a one-year pilot. This marks a significant step toward strengthening independence and transparency in discipline hearings.
Fair, transparent and independent hearings
The HPDT is an independent group of tribunals that hear and decide serious allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence for health professionals in Ontario, referred by Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committees (ICRCs). The HPDT operates separately from colleges to ensure fairness and transparency.
To date, nine regulatory colleges have joined the HPDT. Each participating college has its own tribunal under the HPDT umbrella. For dietitians, this will be called the Ontario Dietitians Discipline Tribunal (ODDT).
A new structure for hearings
Starting in December 2025, all CDO discipline matters will be heard and decided by the ODDT, ensuring that hearings are separate and independent from investigations and case management. Tribunal panels are chaired by an experienced adjudicator and include both dietitian and public members, so decisions reflect professional expertise and public interest.
All panel members equally participate in decision making. The adjudicator ensures that hearings run smoothly and within the rules of procedure and that decisions are drafted clearly. Proceedings and decisions will be publicly accessible online, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Looking Ahead
The one-year pilot will be evaluated to determine whether this approach becomes the future model for CDO discipline hearings. For more information, visit HPDT’s website or CDO’s Complaints and Discipline webpage.
