217. (1) An adjudication officer shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions.

(2) An adjudication officer shall, where he or she believes that performing an adjudication assigned to him or her may create a conflict of interest or may give rise to the perception of a potential conflict of interest, recuse himself or herself from the adjudication concerned.

(3) Where an adjudication officer forms a belief referred to in subsection (2), he or she shall inform the chief adjudication officer who shall re-assign that adjudication to another adjudication officer.

(4) An adjudication officer shall, as soon as practicable after informing the chief adjudication officer under F8[subsection (3)], by notice in writing, inform the Authority and any licensee affected by a recusal under that subsection.