Pickering Man Fined $6,000 for Three Counts of Illegal Use of the Title "Professional Engineer"

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 18, 2016) - The Ontario Court of Justice at Toronto has fined a Pickering-area man $6,000 for misrepresenting himself as a professional engineer.

On Monday, March 14, Cosimo Polidoro of Pickering, Ontario, was convicted of three counts of breaching section 40(2)(a) of the Professional Engineers Act for using the protected title "P.Eng." in a resume and in two emails in response to an employment opportunity with a Toronto-area construction firm. The employer asked for confirmation of Polidoro's licensure status on several occasions. The employer then checked with PEO, which informed the employer that Polidoro had never been licensed as a professional engineer in Ontario.

His Worship Justice Sisay Woldermichael levied a fine of $2,000 on each of the three counts after finding Polidoro guilty of holding himself out as a professional engineer on three different occasions.

Nick Hambleton, associate counsel, regulatory compliance, represented PEO in this matter. PEO would like to thank the construction firm and its employees for their cooperation in its investigation.

How to verify licensure

To check whether an individual is licensed or a firm holds a Certificate of Authorization (C of A), search the directories of practitioners (licence and C of A holders) at www.peo.on.ca. To report unlicensed individuals and unauthorized companies, contact PEO's enforcement hotline at 416-840-1444 or 1-800-339-3716, ext 1444, or email enforcement@peo.on.ca.

About Professional Engineers Ontario

Through the Professional Engineers Act, PEO governs over 85,000 licence and certificate holders and regulates professional engineering in Ontario to serve and protect the public. Professional engineering safeguards life, health, property, economic interests, the public welfare and the environment. Professional engineers can be identified by the P.Eng. after their names. Holders of limited licences can be identified by LEL after their names.