In the Matter of the FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ACT (RSBC 1996, c.141) (the “Act”)
and the INSURANCE COUNCIL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (“Council”)
and GAGANDEEP SINGH DHILLON (the “Licensee”)
DECISION AND ORDER UNDER SECTIONS 231 & 238 OF THE ACT
WHEREAS the Licensee currently holds a Level 1 general insurance salesperson (“Level 1 Salesperson”) licence in British Columbia, and has been licensed since November 2014;
AND WHEREAS on April 1, 2020, charges were laid against the Licensee in the Provincial Court of British Columbia under the Criminal Code of Canada involving:
• 10 counts of identity theft, • 10 counts of unauthorized use of credit card data, • 8 counts of fraud over $5,000, • 1 count of careless use or storage of a firearm, and • 1 count of possession of property obtained by crime; AND WHEREAS the alleged offences occurred between January 12, 2017 and July 19, 2019; AND WHEREAS twenty-eight of the alleged offences occurred while the Licensee was authorized to represent certain insurance agencies in British Columbia;
AND WHEREAS the insurance agencies that the Licensee was most recently affiliated with have all withdrawn his authority to represent them;
AND WHEREAS Council staff are conducting an investigation with regard to the Licensee’s suitability to hold a licence;
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Decision and Order under Sections 231 & 238 of the Act Gagandeep Singh Dhillon LIC-197783C144801R1 / COM-2020-00034 May 12, 2020 Page 2 of 2
AND WHEREAS, based on the nature of the charges against the Licensee, Council believes the Licensee represents a risk to the public such that his licence should remain suspended under sections 231 and 238 of the Act while the investigation is underway and until Council determines the Licensee’s suitability and issues further orders, if any;
AND WHEREAS Council considers the length of time it would take to address this matter through an intended decision, pursuant to section 231 of the Act, would be detrimental to the due administration of the Act;
NOW THEREFORE Council orders that the Licensee's Level 1 Salesperson licence be suspended pursuant to sections 231 and 238 of the Act, effective the date of this order, until such time as:
1. Council staff’s investigation is complete; and 2. Council has determined the Licensee’s suitability to hold a licence and issued further orders, if any, under the Act.
TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to section 238 of the Act, the Licensee has the right to require a hearing before Council on this suspension by delivering written notice within 14 days of receipt of this order to Council at Suite 300, 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4H1; alternatively, the Licensee may appeal this order to the Financial Services Tribunal.
Dated in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the 12 th day of May, 2020. _________________________________________ Janet Sinclair, Executive Director Insurance Council of British Columbia