25.1. Where the Association becomes aware that a natural person applying for the issue of a certificate has been found guilty of, by final judgment, or pleaded guilty to a criminal offence which may be related to activities as a real estate broker or agent, the Association shall, before refusing to issue the certificate on the grounds that the person does not meet the qualification requirement under paragraph 2 of section 21 of the Regulation respecting the application of the Real Estate Brokerage Act (chapter C-73.1, r. 1), send the file for a decision to the committee established pursuant to section 25.2 and the natural person may present observations to the committee in accordance with sections 25.3 to 25.6.
The same applies before refusing to issue a certificate to a partnership or legal person on the grounds that the partnership or person does not fulfil the requirement or condition set out in paragraph 9 of section 10 or 12.