Which of the following best describes the role of the ASET Investigative Committee?

Under the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act (EGPA), the disciplinary process for professional regulatory organizations is carefully separated into distinct phases to ensure fairness, objectivity, and natural justice. When the Registrar receives a formal written complaint regarding the conduct or competence of a regulated member, the matter is referred to the Investigative Committee. The primary role of the Investigative Committee is strictly to gather facts and evidence. They conduct interviews, review documents, and assess whether there is sufficient evidence of unskilled practice or unprofessional conduct to warrant sending the matter to a formal hearing. The Investigative Committee does not decide guilt, nor do they hand down penalties; they act essentially as a grand jury to determine if the complaint has merit. If they find sufficient evidence, they forward the case to the Discipline Committee, which is a separate body that actually conducts the formal, trial-like hearing and determines disciplinary outcomes. Thus, their sole statutory function is to investigate complaints.