No. 04/09
Keith Woodburn Purvin-Good
Lake Country, BC
Called to the Bar: May 14, 1973
Discipline hearing: February 23, 2004
Panel: Margaret Ostrowski, QC, as a one-Bencher panel, by consent
Report issued: March 16, 2004; indexed as 2004 LSBC 05
Counsel: Jessica S. Gossen, for the Law Society and Christopher Hinkson, QC, for Mr. Purvin-Good
Summaryn the course of his practice, Mr. Purvin-Good collected but failed to remit $3,606.44 in GST to the federal government and $9,631.85 in PST to the provincial government, in breach of the Excise Tax Act and Social Service Tax Act respectively. He admitted and the hearing panel found that his conduct constituted professional misconduct. The panel ordered that he be reprimanded, pay a $1,000 fine and pay $500 as costs. |
In the course of his practice as a sole practitioner Mr. Purvin-Good collected but failed to remit $3,606.44 in GST and $9,631.85 in PST.
In June, 2002 he advised the Law Society that he was making a proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. The statement disclosed the GST and PST that he owed and an overall debt of $430,820.82.
A citation was issued against Mr. Purvin-Good on April 2, 2003.
Mr. Purvin-Good admitted and the hearing panel found that his failure to remit GST, contrary to the Excise Tax Act, and his failure to remit PST, contrary to the Social Service Tax Act, constituted professional misconduct.
The hearing panel considered the various factors affecting penalty and noted that Mr. Purvin-Good had no discipline record, had acknowledged his misconduct, had taken steps to redress the wrong and was not likely to repeat the offence.
The panel ordered that Mr. Purvin- Good:
be reprimanded;
pay a $1,000 fine; and
pay $500 as costs of the discipline proceedings.
The fine and costs were to be paid by instalments of $500 on March 31, April 30 and May 31, 2004.