We protect client safety and regulate midwifery in the public interest
The College of Midwives of Ontario regulates practising midwives in the province of Ontario by:
- Ensuring that midwives meet high standards, and
- Acting when risks are identified.
The midwifery profession includes solo midwife practices and group practices. Midwives provide care in a variety of settings including homes, clinics, hospitals, and birth centres. All midwives follow the same professional principles and standards of practice. We provide guidance to help them do so.
Our Guiding Principles
These interrelated principles define how we strive to work as an organization. They shape our culture, our relationships with the public, midwives, and our partner organizations.
Accountability
We make fair, consistent, and defensible decisions, incorporating diverse and inclusive views.
Equity
We identify, remove, and prevent systemic inequities.
Transparency
We act openly and honestly to enhance accountability.
Integrity
We act with humility and respect and apply a lens of social justice to our work.
Proportionality
We allocate resources proportionate to the risk posed to our regulatory outcomes.
Innovation
We translate opportunity into tangible benefits for the organization.
Strategic Documents
The College’s Strategic Framework is a high-level statement of the College’s vision, mission, outcomes, and key priorities through 2026.
It paves the way forward for the organization and builds a stronger sense of common purpose and direction. Additionally, it facilitates a shared understanding of why we exist, what guides our work, and what we want to achieve as an organization.
Our Vision
A leader in regulatory excellence, inspiring trust and confidence.
Our Mission
Regulating midwifery in the public interest.
Priorities
- Regulation that enables the midwifery profession to evolve.
- Effective use of data to identify and act on existing and emerging risks.
- Building engagement and fostering trust with the public and the profession.
Key outcomes
- Clients and the public can be confident that midwives possess and maintain knowledge, skills, and behaviours relevant to their professional practice and exercise clinical and professional judgment to provide safe and effective care.
- Clients and the public can be confident that midwives practise the profession with honesty and integrity and regard their responsibility to the client as paramount.
- Clients and the public can be confident that midwives demonstrate accountability by complying with legislative and regulatory requirements.
- Clients and the public trust that the College of Midwives of Ontario regulates in the public interest.
Board & Committees
The College’s work is overseen by a Board, which sets the strategic direction of the College and ensures our long-term success. The Board also holds staff accountable for the way we fulfill our regulatory mandate and duties.
Board Members
- Claire Ramlogan-Salanga, RM, Chair
- Edan Thomas, RM, Vice-Chair, Professional
- Lynne-Marie Culliton, RM
- Isabelle Milot, RM
- Jyothy Nair, RM
- Maryam Rahimi-Chatri, RM
- Alexia Singh, RM
- Donald Strickland, Vice-Chair, Public
- Anna Boudria
- Marianna Kaminska
- Judith Murray
- Tina Walia-Rao
- Sabrina Blaise, RM
- Hardeep Fervaha, RM
- Emily Gaudreau, RM
- Lilly Martin, RM
- Karen McKenzie, RM
- Jessica Raison, RM
- Maureen Silverman, RM
- Rebecca Forte
- Samantha Heiydt
- Jennifer Lemon
- Nadine Robertson
- Richard Yampolsky
Statutory Committees
Between meetings of the Board, the Executive Committee has all the powers of the Board with respect to any matter that, in the Committee’s opinion, requires immediate attention, other than the making of the by-laws and regulations.
The Executive Committee also performs governance, audit and finance, and risk oversight responsibilities. The Executive Committee is composed of the chair, two vice-chairs, and two members of the Board.
Executive Committee – Terms of Reference
Executive Committee Members
- Claire Ramlogan-Salanga, RM, Chair
- Edan Thomas, Vice-Chair (Professional)
- Donald Strickland, Vice-Chair (Public)
- Tina Walia-Rao, Public-At-Large
- Isabelle Milot, Professional-At-Large
The Client Relations Committee (CRC) oversees the Client Relations Program and is responsible for developing measures for preventing and addressing sexual abuse of clients. In addition, the Committee administers the funding program for therapy and counselling for midwifery clients who have been sexually abused.
Client Relations Committee – Term of Reference
Client Relations Committee Members
- Donald Strickland, Chair
- Hardeep Fervaha, RM
- Rebecca Forte
The Discipline Committee holds hearings when a midwife has been referred by the Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee because of the serious nature of the alleged professional misconduct or incompetence.
Discipline panels are appointed from the committee and must be composed of at least two public members and at least one professional member. The panel has a designated chairperson and is responsible for writing its own decision and reasons.
Discipline Committee – Terms of Reference
Discipline Committee Members
- Judith Murray, Chair
- Sabrina Blaise, RM
- Anna Boudraia
- Hardeep Fervaha, RM
- Rebecca Forte
- Marianna Kaminska
- Lilly Martin, RM
- Isabelle Milot, RM
- Jyothy Nair, RM
- Alexia Singh, RM
- Donald Strickland
- Maryam Rahimi-Chatri, RM
- Jessica Raison, RM
- Edan Thomas, RM
- Tina Walia-Rao
The Fitness to Practise Committee holds hearings in cases in which a midwife has been referred by the Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee due to concerns that the midwife might be suffering from a physical or mental condition that impacts the midwife’s ability to provide care.
If it is in the best interests of the public, the Committee can decide that the midwife’s practice be subject to terms, conditions, or limitations; or that the midwife no longer be permitted to practise.
The Fitness to Practise Committee consists of members of the public and the profession. Fitness to Practise panels are appointed from the committee and must be composed of at least one public member.
Fitness to Practise Committee – Terms of Reference
Fitness to Practise Committee Members
- Judith Murray, Chair
- Sabrina Blaise, RM
- Anna Boudraia
- Hardeep Fervaha, RM
- Rebecca Forte
- Marianna Kaminska
- Lilly Martin, RM
- Isabelle Milot, RM
- Jyothy Nair, RM
- Alexia Singh, RM
- Donald Strickland
- Maryam Rahimi-Chatri, RM
- Jessica Raison, RM
- Edan Thomas, RM
- Tina Walia-Rao
The Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee (ICRC) investigates public complaints and information the College receives through reports regarding concerns related to professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity.
Based on the record of investigation before them, the Committee determines whether the concerns warrant a referral to the Discipline or Fitness to Practise committee, or if some other action would better serve the public interest. Every panel must be composed of at least three persons, at least one of whom must be a public member.
Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee – Terms of Reference
ICRC Committee Members
- Samantha Heiydt, Chair
- Hardeep Fervaha, RM
- Emily Gaudreau, RM
- Jennifer Lemon
- Marianna Kaminska
- Karen McKenzie, RM
- Nadine Robertson
- Maureen Silverman, RM
- Edan Thomas, RM
- Tina Walia-Rao
The Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) is responsible for administering the College’s Quality Assurance Program (QAP). The QAP is mandated by legislation and is designed to ensure that the knowledge, skills, and professional judgment of midwives remain current throughout their careers.
The QAC develops professional standards and other documents to guide the professional knowledge, skills, and judgment needed to practise midwifery safely.
QAC Members
- Lilly Martin, RM, Chair
- Sabrina Blaise, RM
- Jennifer Lemon
- Alexia Singh, RM
- Tina Walia-Rao
- Richard Yampolsky
The Registration Committee considers referrals of applications for registration that do not meet the requirements set out in the Registration Regulation. An application for registration referred to the Registration Committee by the Registrar is considered by a panel of Committee members selected by the Committee chair. Every panel must be composed of at least three persons, at least one of whom must be a public member.
The Registration Committee evaluates requests to approve terms, conditions, and limitations agreed to by the applicant and the Registrar or negotiates its own agreement with the applicant for terms, conditions, or limitations.
The Registration Committee recommends policies to the Board, ensuring that registration policies and processes meet the standards of good regulation and are transparent, objective, fair, and impartial.
Registration Committee – Terms of Reference
Registration Committee Members
- Maryam Rahimi-Chatri, RM, Chair
- Isabelle Milot, RM, Co-chair
- Anna Boudrai
- Samantha Heiydt
- Karen McKenzie, RM
- Jyothy Nair, RM
- Jessica Raison, RM
- Don Strickland
- Richard Yampolsky
Board Meetings
The Board meets a minimum of four times a year to stay accountable to members of the public, registrants of the College, and its stakeholders. Meetings are open to all midwives and to the public to attend.
Elections
Each year, the College holds online elections for professional member vacancies on the Board. These positions are filled by candidates who are registered midwives with the College.
Addressing or Presenting to the Board
The Board invites individuals to address the Board at meetings on issues relevant to its role of regulating the profession in the public interest.
A portion of each regularly scheduled quarterly Board meeting will be designed as a period where the Board will hear from any individual who wishes to address the Board, subject to the conditions set out in Governance Policy 15 in the Addressing or Presenting to the Board policy. If you wish to address the Board at the next meeting, you must submit a completed Addressing or Presenting to the Board form to the College by emailing cmo@cmo.on.ca no later than 10 business days prior to the date of the meeting. Requests must include a brief description of the specific matter to be addressed. See upcoming Board meeting dates.
Please note that presentations with respect to complaints or reports, disciplinary matters or specific registered midwives will not be permitted.
If there are multiple requests to address the Board during the same meeting, requests will be granted in the order of receipt of request, if approved by the Chair. The Chair will give priority to matters previously identified by the Board to be addressed. You will be notified when your request has been approved or denied.
Leadership
Chair of the College of Midwives of Ontario
Claire Ramlogan-Salanga, RM
The Chair is responsible for ensuring the College’s strategy is formulated clearly and is well understood both internally and externally. The Chair has no responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the College but has an important role with stakeholders.
- Ensuring that the Board meets with sufficient frequency
- Ensuring that the Board devotes sufficient time and attention to the matters within its mandated responsibilities
- Helping to ensure that the Board and its members have the information necessary to make decisions
- Facilitating the running of the Board
- Maintaining and developing a productive relationship with the College Registrar & CEO
- With the Registrar, leading the communication of the College’s strategic direction and its policies with the public, College registrants, and key stakeholders
- Raising the profile of the College, and establishing and maintaining high-level contacts.
To contact the Chair, please email: chair@cmo.on.ca
Claire Ramlogan-Salanga joined the College in 2017. Prior to being elected President in October 2019, she served as the College’s Vice-President (Professional) from 2018, and sat on the Registration, Quality Assurance, Discipline, and Fitness to Practise Committees.
Claire graduated from Ryerson University’s Midwifery Education Program (MEP) in 2015 and continued on to practice in Guelph, Ontario. Claire enjoys giving back to the MEP by teaching in class, precepting on site and volunteering at both Toronto Metropolitan University and McMaster University sites. Her Bachelor of Commerce degree (2003) and midwifery experience places Claire in a unique position to provide constructive feedback while serving on Council.
Claire envisions a future for midwifery to be substantially more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable in order to serve all Ontario families equally. Claire is a mother of four active boys and wife to a supportive husband.
Registrar & CEO
Kelly Dobbin
The Registrar & CEO is responsible for fulfilling the statutory responsibilities of the College as set out in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) and for implementing the strategy set by the Board. She is also responsible for the leadership of the College.
The Registrar’s key statutory responsibilities include:
- Ensuring the College’s public register is available to clients and members of the public
- Performing registration duties such as registering and reinstating applicants, referring applications to the Registration Committee, and suspending midwives who do not renew their registration with the College
- Receiving complaints and mandatory reports, and ensuring they are addressed according to the legislation
- Notifying College registrants of certain legislative changes and proposals.
The Registrar’s other responsibilities include:
- Reporting regularly to the Board with appropriate, timely, and quality information so the the Board can discharge its responsibilities effectively
- Informing and consulting the Board on all matters of significance to the College so that the Board can properly perform their responsibilities
- Developing and delivering the strategic objectives set by the Board
- Recommending significant operational changes and major expenditures to the Board where these are beyond the Registrar’s authority
- Communicating throughout the College the strategic objectives and the values of the College set by the Board, and ensuring that these are achieved in practice
- Recruiting and retaining staff to work at the College.
All College staff report to the Registrar & CEO.
Kelly Dobbin, RM, MA, MSc
Kelly became an Ontario registered midwife in 1996 and since then has contributed to the field of midwifery as a community midwife, president of Council at the College of Midwives, and as a policy consultant. Kelly currently serves as Treasurer of the Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council and is a Board member of the Health Profession Regulators of Ontario. Kelly holds a Master of Arts in Feminist Health Care and a Master of Science in Public Health.
Governance
Governance Policies
The Board has approved a set of Governance Policies that outline the processes, principles, and standards that guide Board activities and decision-making. The policies also outline descriptions and expectations of the different roles on the Board.
Governance Education Modules (GEM)
The Governance Education Modules (GEM) is online training that introduces participants to governance as it applies to the regulation of the midwifery profession in Ontario. These are open to anyone interested in understanding the role of the College.
General By-law
The College’s by-laws are the rules that govern how the College operates. The Code (s. 94) authorizes the Board to make by-laws relating to administrative and internal affairs of the College. By-laws are approved by the Board of the College, and do not require the submission to the Ministry.
Fees and Remuneration By-law
The Fees and Remuneration By-law covers initial application fees and annual registrant fees for midwives in all classes of registration.
Reports
The College is committed to accountability and transparency in the work of regulating midwifery in the public interest. We demonstrate this by providing regular reports that detail the progress we’re making in fulfilling our legislative mandates and carrying out the direction set by the Board.
College Performance Measurement Framework (CPMF)
This annual report is mandated to be submitted to the Ministry of Health to be accountable and transparent about how well we perform the work of regulating midwifery.
Office of the Fairness Commissioner
This required annual report provides a detailed overview of the College’s registration practices to ensure they meet the standards of fairness, transparency, objectivity, and impartiality for registrants.
Annual Reports
The College publishes its annual report each year to provide an overview and update on strategic and operational activities for each fiscal year.
Regulatory Performance Measurement Framework
In 2019, the College created this framework to report to demonstrate our effectiveness in delivering on the work of regulating midwifery in Ontario.
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