Toronto Firm's Forged Engineer Seal Exposes Public Safety Risks in Construction

TORONTO, ON – May 06, 2026 – A Toronto-based firm has been penalized for an act that strikes at the heart of public safety and professional integrity in the construction industry: the unauthorized use of a professional engineer's seal. The Ontario Court of Justice has ordered 11951076 Canada Inc., operating as Studio Four, to pay a $5,000 fine after the company pleaded guilty to forging an engineer's stamp of approval on a report for a residential building project.

The case highlights the critical role of regulatory oversight in a sector where cutting corners can have catastrophic consequences. The firm's two directors, Salim Afroz and Ashweek Chhabra, also pleaded guilty in connection with the incident and received suspended sentences, a judgment that underscores personal accountability for corporate malfeasance.

The Anatomy of a Deception

The breach occurred in June 2023, when Studio Four affixed a facsimile of a licensed professional engineer's seal to an engineering report. This document was then submitted to the City of Hamilton as part of the approval process for a residential building project. Crucially, the engineer whose credentials and reputation were co-opted had no knowledge of the report and had not given consent for their seal to be used.

Following a complaint, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), the body that regulates the province's engineering profession, launched an investigation. The investigation culminated in charges under the Professional Engineers Act (PEA), the legislation designed to protect the public interest in all matters related to engineering.

On April 24, 2026, Studio Four formally admitted to breaching section 40(3)(b) of the Act, which prohibits any entity that is not a licensed professional engineer or firm from using a seal that could lead to the belief that they are. The directors, Afroz and Chhabra, were found to have breached section 40(5), which holds corporate officers liable for such offenses committed by their company. While details of the specific residential project in Hamilton remain private, the act of submitting unverified engineering documents to a municipality raises serious alarms about what could have been built on a foundation of fraud.

More Than a Rubber Stamp

To the public, an engineer's seal on a blueprint or report may seem like a simple formality. But within the engineering and construction world, it is a legally binding symbol of trust and competence. The seal, accompanied by a signature and date, signifies that a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) has personally reviewed the work, applied their expertise, and accepts professional responsibility for its integrity. It is a guarantee that the designs for a bridge, a high-rise, or a family home meet rigorous safety codes and standards.

Unauthorized use of a seal bypasses this essential safety check. Without a qualified engineer's review, a building's structural plans, electrical systems, or environmental assessments could contain critical, even fatal, flaws. This practice, sometimes called "rubberstamping" even when done by a negligent engineer, becomes outright forgery when committed by an unlicensed party. It fundamentally violates the primary ethical duty of engineering: to "hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public."

An independent expert in engineering ethics, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated, "Misusing a seal is not a victimless crime. It endangers the lives of future occupants and construction workers. It undermines the public's trust in the entire system of professional self-regulation that is designed to prevent disasters."

Contextualizing the Penalty

While a $5,000 fine for a corporation might seem modest, it is part of a broader pattern of enforcement by PEO. This penalty is consistent with fines for similar first-time offenses. For instance, a Woodbridge contractor was fined $5,000 in 2018 for a similar breach. However, PEO's disciplinary actions show that penalties can and do escalate.

In 2022, a Kitchener man was fined $20,000 for the unauthorized use of an engineer's seal. In a more severe case, one individual and his company were fined a combined $27,500 in 2019 for repeatedly misusing seals. When that same individual violated a court injunction and continued to falsely represent himself as an engineer, he was sentenced to 14 days in jail in 2025. These cases demonstrate that while Studio Four's fine is a starting point, the justice system and regulatory bodies possess the tools for more severe punishment, including incarceration, for repeat offenders or those who show contempt for the law.

The suspended sentences for the directors, Afroz and Chhabra, are also significant. They serve as a clear warning to corporate leadership that they cannot hide behind a company name; they are personally on the hook for fraudulent activities conducted under their watch.

The Ripple Effect and Public Vigilance

The incident also leaves an unseen victim: the professional engineer whose identity was stolen. While they bear no legal responsibility for the fraudulent document, they face potential reputational damage and the professional burden of reporting the forgery to PEO. Engineers are advised to guard their seals—both physical and digital—diligently and are required to report any misuse immediately to protect their license and the public.

In its announcement, PEO stressed that the unauthorized use of a seal is a quasi-criminal offense and can even lead to charges under the Criminal Code of Canada. As the regulator for Ontario's more than 98,000 professional engineers, PEO continues to reinforce its mandate to serve and protect the public interest.

To that end, PEO encourages public vigilance. Any member of the public, or any municipal official, can and should verify the status of an engineer or engineering firm by using the official directories on the PEO website at peo.on.ca/directory. Concerns about unlicensed individuals or suspicious documents can be reported directly to PEO's enforcement hotline, ensuring that the first line of defense against engineering fraud remains strong.