Complaints and Reporting
As the regulatory body for all nurses practicing in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the College and Association of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CANNN) is responsible, under territorial legislation, for serving and protecting the public. This is achieved by ensuring registrants meet the requirements for registration and annual licensure, and by promoting the standards of practice and a code of conduct.
Resolving Complaints with Integrity and Fairness
The Review of Conduct process is authorized by the Nursing Profession Act SNWT 2023, c 32 and Nursing Professions Act SNu 2023, c 16 (Acts). The process is used to assess allegations and take appropriate action when a registrant’s practice is alleged to involve unprofessional conduct.
The Acts define unprofessional conduct as acts or omissions relevant to the practice of nursing that, considering the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded as disgraceful, dishonorable, or unprofessional. This includes any breech of the Acts, Regulations, Bylaws, Standards of Practice including the Code of Conduct. The Complaints Officer reviews all allegations concerning registrants and takes appropriate action in accordance with the governing legislation.
The complaints process is governed by the legislation and jurisdiction of the Territory in which the allegation of unprofessional conduct arose. The Acts grant the Complaints Officer the authority to dismiss a complaint or attempt to resolve an allegation using an Undertaking Agreement, if it appears it can be resolved satisfactorily. Complaints not resolved by the Complaints Officer may be referred to the Professional Conduct Committee (Committee). The Committee may dismiss a complaint, order a formal investigation, or attempt to resolve the complaint using an Undertaking Agreement. The Committee may also refer the allegation to a Board of Inquiry. Pending the resolution of a complaint, the Complaints Officer or Committee may suspend, restrict or further investigate a registrant’s practice.
For more details on the complaints process, please refer to Sections 51-98 of the Nursing Profession Act (NWT) or Sections 45-93 in the Nursing Professions Act (Nunavut).
If you are a member of the public and have concerns about the quality of care delivered or the professional conduct of a registrant, you may file a complaint with CANNN. We will address complaints about our registrants in accordance with the Acts.
CANNN is only authorized to address complaints involving registered members. All nurses practicing in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut must be registered with CANNN to practice legally. To confirm a registrant’s licensure status, please use the Find a Nurse tool. If you are aware of a nurse practicing without registration, report the matter to intake@cannn.ca.
Complaints must be submitted using the Complaint Form and emailed to intake@cannn.ca. If you require assistance or have questions about filing a complaint, please email intake@cannn.ca or call 1-867-688-8267.
For more information on the complaints process, please refer to our Complaint Process FAQ.
If you are reporting on behalf of an Employer, please refer to Employer Reporting.
If you are reporting as a registrant, please refer to Registrant Reporting.
As an employer of nursing professionals in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, you have a legal obligation under the applicable legislation to report unprofessional conduct to CANNN. The Acts refer to employment as being engaged to provide nursing services on a full-time or part-time basis as a paid or unpaid employee, consultant, contractor, or volunteer.
You must report to CANNN if you have terminated, or suspended a registrant or if you have restricted, revoked, or suspended their entitlements because of conduct deemed unprofessional. You must submit a report outlining the reasons within 30 days of the suspension, termination, revocation or restriction.
For more details on the Reporting by Employers process, please refer to section 57 of the Nursing Profession Act (NWT) SNWT 2023, c 32 or Section 52 in the Nursing Professions Act SNu 2023, c 16. (Nunavut).
Reporting concerns of unprofessional conduct in good faith to the regulatory body is part of the legitimate regulatory process. Employers who provide such reports in good faith, as required by law, are protected from any action or proceeding for damages.
If you are filing a report in according with the Reporting by Employer provision in the Acts please complete the Complaint Form and email to intake@cannn.ca. If you require assistance or have questions about filing a report, please email intake@cannn.ca or call 1-867-688-8267.
For more information on the process, please refer to our Complaint Process FAQ.
If you are reporting on behalf of an Employer, please refer to Employer Reporting FAQ.
If you are reporting as a registrant or colleague, please refer to Registrant Reporting.
All registrants are responsible to demonstrate responsibility, accountability, and leadership in the practice of nursing. This includes identifying and reporting circumstances where you have witnessed first-hand and have objective evidence to support concerns of unprofessional conduct as defined by the Acts. This applies to registrants in all domains of nursing practice including direct care providers, administrators, educators, researchers, and policy advisers.
The duty to identify and address situations of unprofessional conduct is a professional, ethical, and legal responsibility arising out of the registrant’s obligation to protect clients from harm and to uphold the integrity of the nursing profession. These obligations are outlined in the Code of Conduct and other relevant legislation.
The Code of Conduct outlines specific requirements for registrants reporting unprofessional conduct. Registrants must report any error, unsafe behaviour, unprofessional conduct, or system issue to relevant individuals, including employers, the College, and other regulatory colleges, whether or not harm has occurred.
Reporting to an employer or regulatory body concerns of unprofessional conduct in good faith is not defamation or whistleblowing but participation in a legitimate regulatory process. No action or proceeding for damages may be instituted against a registrant for providing ay provide a report in good faith as required by the law.
If you would like to file a report please complete and email to intake@cannn.ca. If you require assistance or have questions about filing a report, please email intake@cannn.ca or call 1-867-688-8267.
For more information on the process, refer to our Complaint Process FAQ
For more information on the reporting, refer to our Registrant Reporting FAQ & Registrant Responsibilities Investigation FAQ
If you are reporting on behalf of an Employer refer to Employer Reporting
If you are reporting on behalf of the public refer to File a Complaint
| Name | Registrant Type | Notice Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willy Tchuilen Ngatcha | Registered Nurse (RN) | 5904 – Board of Inquiry Order | 26-April-2019 |
| Willy Tchuilen Ngatcha | Registered Nurse (RN) | 5904 Appeal – Reasons for Decision | 17-July-2020 |
| Amy Wilderspin | NP | Censure | 03-March-2025 |
This resource outlines CANNN’s approach to individuals who use protected nursing titles or engage in unauthorized practice without registration. Although these cases fall outside the formal complaints or registration process, they remain essential to public safety and professional accountability.
Unauthorized Use of Title | Download the Guidelines
