Code of Ethics

Mark Northwood served for two years on the Ethics Committee of the Council of Private Investigators - Ontario. The mandate of this committee is to ensure a high standard of investigative services are provided to the public by the Members of the CPIO; to maintain courteous and professional conduct among Members of the CPIO; and to enhance the relationship of CPIO members with regulatory bodies, law enforcement, clients, the public, and non-members.

Northwood & Associates follows and complies with the Code of Ethics defined as follows:

I. Interpretation and Definition

A. No part of this document shall supersede the Private Investigators and Security
     Guards Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.25, as amended, or its regulations.

B. For the purposes of this document, a "Member" is:

1. A licenced private investigator, or
2. An organization licenced to engage in the business of providing private investigators.

C. The Council of Private Investigators - Ontario (CPIO) is the recognized industry
      association of private investigators and private investigation companies in Ontario.

D. The CPIO Code of Privacy is a component of this Code of Ethics.

II. Objectives of the Code of Ethics

The objectives of the Code of Ethics are:

A. To ensure a high standard of investigative services are provided to the public by the
     Members of the CPIO;

B. To maintain courteous and professional conduct among Members of the CPIO;

C. To enhance the relationship of CPIO Members with regulatory bodies, law
     enforcement, clients, the public, and non-members.

III. Reputation of the Profession

A. Members will regard themselves as a member of an important and respectable
     profession.

B. Members will ensure that their reputation, that of fellow Members, the CPIO, and the
     investigative profession is maintained at all times.

C. Members shall not engage in any investigative activity for which they are not
     competent and qualified.

IV. Standards of Conduct and Compliance with the Code of Ethics

A. Standard of Care: Members shall at all times adhere to this Code of Ethics and Code
     of Privacy.

B. Integrity: Members shall at all times conduct investigations with integrity and in
     accordance with the lawful instructions of their client.

1. Members will conduct due diligence to ensure that the identity of a client is verified and that the client has a lawful purpose to retain and instruct the investigator.
2. Members will ensure that all employees, subcontractors, and other persons paid to assist in an investigation adhere to this Code of Ethics and the Code of Privacy.

C. Confidentiality of Information: Members shall maintain the confidentiality of all
     information received as part of an investigation.

1. Each Member will respect the privacy of clients and their right to confidentiality.
2. Each Member will conduct investigations in a manner consistent with the Code of Privacy.
3. Each Member will ensure adequate security for personal information collected in the course of an investigation, and will take all reasonable steps to protect against inadvertent or negligent disclosure.
4. No Member shall use information obtained in an investigation for personal gain.

D. Fees or Remuneration: Members shall pay their membership fees in full when due.
     Failure to renew membership may result in the removal of the Member from the
     Association.

E. Advertising: No Member will at any time make false or misleading claims to academic
     or professional qualifications.

V. Relations With Fellow Members

A. Members will work together towards the achievement of the objectives of the CPIO.

B. Members are encouraged to employ the services of fellow Members when an
     investigation may warrant.

C. Members will not take advantage of referrals by fellow Members in order to interfere
     with the referee's business relationships.

D. Members shall not make false or misleading statements about a fellow Member.

VI. Conduct of a Professional Practice

A. Disclosure of Conflicts: Members shall disclose to a client at the first opportunity any
     influence, interest or relationship pertaining to an investigative engagement which
     may impair the Member's professional judgment or objectivity.

B. Terms of Engagement: Members shall ensure that prior to accepting an engagement,
     the objectives of the client are fully understood and that the client has been informed
     of anticipated costs and the time required to complete an assignment.

C. Unqualified Opinions: Members shall not provide opinions for which they are not
     professionally qualified to give.

D. Reports: Members shall be forthcoming, truthful, and professional in disclosing
     investigative findings. Reports to clients shall be complete, objective and unbiased.
     Reports should not provide opinions without a factual foundation.

VII. The Ethics Committee

A. Jurisdiction: The Ethics Committee may:

1. Investigate ethical violations and accusations; and
2. Serve as a mediator in disputes between Members.

B. Composition of the Ethics Committee

1. Membership on the Ethics Committee will be rotated annually. No Member shall serve for more than two consecutive years.
2. The Committee shall be selected at the CPIO's annual general membership meeting.
3. Every Member shall be eligible to serve.

VIII. Discipline

A. Sanctions: A matter reviewed by the Ethics Committee may result in:

1. a written warning,
2. probation of membership in the CPIO,
3. suspension of membership in the CPIO, or
4. expulsion of membership in the CPIO.

B. The Ethics Committee may, at its sole discretion, notify civil authorities or provincial
     or federal regulators.

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