A: A concern is an issue you bring to the CNDA when you are not sure whether it requires a formal complaint. You can contact the CNDA to discuss your situation confidentially with the Complaints Director. Together, you can decide:

• If the concern can be resolved informally (e.g., by providing information, answering questions, or clarifying expectations), or

• If it should proceed as a formal complaint under the Health Professions Act.

A formal complaint must be submitted in writing, includes your name, and starts a regulated process that may involve investigation or a hearing. Information on the regulatory process can be found in the Alberta Health Professions Act under Part 4.

A: If you:

• Are unsure if your situation falls within CNDA’s complaints process

• Want advice on whether a formal complaint is appropriate

• Believe the issue may be resolved informally (e.g., by better communication or clarification)

• Prefer to remain anonymous

We recommend you contact the Complaints Director at complaints@cnda.net to discuss your concern before deciding whether to file a complaint.

A:    Issues that may fall under the complaints process include:

• Unprofessional or unethical behaviour (e.g. inappropriate or unethical behaviour, boundary issues)

• Competence or quality of care concerns (e.g. unsafe treatment, failure to meet standards of care)

• Sexual misconduct or inappropriate relationships with patients

• Breach of CNDA Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, or the Health Professions Act

• Fitness to practice concerns due to illness, mental health, or substance use

A:    The CNDA cannot address:

• Disagreements about fees or refunds (unless linked to misconduct)

• Personality conflicts or dissatisfaction without evidence of unsafe or unethical conduct

• Complaints about other health professionals who are not regulated naturopathic doctors with the College (Protected Titles and Unregulated Practitioners)

• Insurance coverage, malpractice lawsuits, criminal, or other civil matters

• Anonymous complaints (the Health Professions Act requires identification) – however, these can be dealt with as a concern, not a formal complaint.

If your issue does not fall under CNDA’s authority, we will do our best to direct you to the appropriate body.

A: Complaints must be in writing and signed by the complainant. Please complete the Formal Complaint form (see above FAQs) and send by:

Email:complaints@cnda.net, or

Mail: College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta 212-20 Sunpark Plaza SE, Calgary, Alberta T2X 3T2

Formal complaints cannot be submitted anonymously or by phone. There is no time limit to submit complaints related to naturopathic doctors currently registered with the CNDA, however, a complaint cannot be made if more than 2 years have passed since the ND ceased to be registered with the CNDA.

A: The Complaints Director will review your complaint and may:

• Encourage you and the naturopathic doctor to resolve it directly

• Assist with a resolution process

• Order a formal investigation

• Dismiss the complaint if no grounds are found

You will receive an update on the first steps taken within 30 days of submitting your complaint.

A: Yes. Your written complaint will be shared with the naturopathic doctor, including your name. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.

A: Your name is shared with the naturopathic doctor during the process. If the case goes to a Hearing Tribunal, the decision is published with your initials only, to protect your identity.

A: You are considered a witness. You may be asked to provide documents, respond to questions, or testify at a hearing under oath.

A: Timelines vary depending on the complexity. Some complaints are resolved quickly; others may take months or years to complete

A:

• No further action

• Informal resolution (apology, additional training, or other agreement)

• Formal agreement (conditions on practice, additional education, monitoring of practice, suspension of permit)

• Referral to a Hearing Tribunal, which may impose sanctions such as reprimands, fines, suspension, or cancellation of registration

If a Naturopathic Doctor is found guilty of unprofessional conduct by a Hearing Tribunal, a written decision is prepared, and a summary of the decision, including the Naturopathic Doctor’s name, will be published. The decision of the Hearing Tribunal may refer to your name, but in the publication of a summary of a decision, your will be reduced to initials to protect your personal information. 

A: Complaints usually relate to:

• Allegations of unprofessional conduct under the Health Professions Act

• Clinical concerns that breach CNDA Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, or the Health Professions Act (involving diagnosis, treatment, prescribing, compounding, record-keeping)

• Boundary violations, including sexual misconduct

• Impairment of practice (mental health, illness, or substance use)

A: Yes. Patients or members of the public may raise a concern with the CNDA instead of filing a formal complaint. The Complaints Director may help resolve the issue informally (for example, by encouraging communication or clarifying expectations) without triggering a formal investigation.

If both parties agree, informal resolution may include:

• Clarifying information

• Listening to patient concerns

• Apology or acknowledgement (without admission of misconduct)

• Agreement to additional training

Informal resolution is a voluntary process and cannot be forced upon you. However, you may decide that informal resolution, may be preferable to the formal processes involved in a complaint, including an investigation, which can be long and time-consuming. If a complaint is resolved, the complaint file is closed and there is no finding.  If the issue cannot be resolved informally, it may proceed as a formal complaint.

A: Fee disputes, personality conflicts, or matters NOT involving unsafe, unethical, or incompetent practice typically fall outside the CNDA complaints process.

A: The Complaints Director may:

• Encourage resolution between you and the complainant

• Attempt mediation or assisted resolution

• Order a formal investigation

• Request an Expert review

You will be provided with a copy of the complaint and given an opportunity to respond.

A: At the start, only you, the complainant, the Complaints Director, and any investigator will know about the complaint. As the investigation proceeds, other individuals (e.g., staff, witnesses, other practitioners) may be contacted for relevant information.

If the complaint is resolved without a hearing, your name may or may not be published depending on the outcome of the investigation and terms of any agreement.

If the complaint proceeds to a hearing tribunal, your name will be published in a public notice of hearing.

A:

• Resolution (file closed with no finding).

• Dismissal (complainant may appeal within 30 days)

• Hearing Tribunal sanctions (may include reprimand, fines, conditions, suspension, or cancellation)

If both parties agree to Resolution, the complaint file is considered concluded and will not be reopened. The majority of complaints are resolved without the need for an investigation. 

If discipline is imposed, the results are published on the CNDA website and may be disclosed to other regulators if you apply to practice elsewhere, are licensed in another jurisdiction or are a member of more than one regulated health profession.

A: Investigations and hearings vary in length. Some may be resolved within months; others may take years