The Government of British Columbia today announced the appointment of a commissioner under the Private Training Act (PTA) to serve as an avenue of appeal for private training institutions for certain decisions made by the registrar.

Former B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ronald A. McKinnon was appointed to the role of commissioner.

The commissioner will decide appeals on their merits, consider new evidence as required, and have the authority to uphold, reverse or, in some cases, vary decisions of the registrar. The commissioner will have exclusive jurisdiction to decide matters that come before him, and decisions made by the commissioner will be considered final.

The PTA will come into force by regulation on Sept. 1, 2016. The new Act will repeal and replace the Private Career Training Institutions Act which currently regulates the activities of private career training institutions in British Columbia. The PTA will create higher quality standards for institutions, streamlined administrative processes, a broader range of enforcement mechanisms and new incentives for good performance.

The new regulatory system established by the PTA includes a commissioner to serve as an independent avenue of appeal. The position holds powers – similar to courts of law – that can be used to decide certain appeals of decisions made by the registrar under the PTA with respect to private career training institutions.

McKinnon has been appointed commissioner for a term of five years.