The Insurance Council of British Columbia is fining Melissa Muriel Mintoft $6,000 for missing continuing education (CE) credits to support both her general insurance license and her life agent’s license. Mintoft was also ordered to complete remedial education and pay the insurance council’s costs.
First licensed as a general insurance salesperson in February 2006 and as a life agent in June 2017, Mintoft left her CE declarations unchecked on her 2022 annual license renewals submissions for both licenses, triggering an audit by the council, which in turn requested CE records.
“The licensee did not provide CE records to council, stating that personal circumstances affected her ability to meet the CE requirements,” the council’s intended decision states.
All told, council staff determined that Mintoft was short 45 CE credits to support her life agent’s license and 19.67 credits in relation to her level 2 agent’s license. In May 2023 Mintoft provided evidence of having made up the missing credits.
Admissions of responsibility
“Council found the licensee’s candor and admissions of responsibility, her personal circumstances affecting her ability to complete CE and her successful efforts to complete the CE shortfall prior to the committee meeting to be mitigating factors. Council found the licensee’s unfamiliarity with the life agent side of her practice to be aggravating,” the decision states.
“On balance, council found the mitigating factors did not outweigh the aggravating factors to a degree that departure from the baseline established by precedent was warranted.” The council did note, however, that the circumstances warranted an extension of the deadline to pay and complete the remedial education ordered.
In addition to the fine and costs in the amount of $562.50, Mintoft must also complete the Council Rules Course for life and accident and sickness insurance agents and the Council Rules Course for general insurance and adjusters and the Continuing Education Guidelines and Requirements course before February 10, 2025.
