Council and Elections

In accordance with the Midwifery Act, 1991, Council is composed of at least seven and no more than eight professional elected members.

The number of vacancies on Council vary each year and generally range from two to three vacancies. College registrants are informed of the number of vacancies in the call for nominations notice.

The College contacts all members by email to call for nominations at least ninety (90) days prior to “election day,” typically it is sent on or before April 1. Nomination forms must be returned to the College by the nominee within 60 days of the “election date.”

Terms of office of elected members commence on the day of the first Council meeting after the election and continue for approximately three years as noted in the General By-law (s.5.04). The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 states that elected council members may not serve for more than nine consecutive years.

The election process is outlined in the College’s General By-Law (s.5). The by-law refers to an “election day,” but the College allows registrants to vote online throughout the month of June each year. June 30 is referred to as the “election day” for the purposes of carrying out the College’s administrative procedures.

Any College registrant in good standing can run for election, with some restrictions as outlined in the College’s General By-Law (s.5).

We encourage all eligible registered midwives to apply, however, to suit our Council composition needs, we are particularly encouraging midwives from Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, marginalized communities, and rural communities, as well as midwives who are internationally educated, or practising in expanded, collaborative and/or community health team models to run for election.

The College’s General By-law includes all of the eligibility criteria and a detailed description of the process.

Please note, if elected, attendance is required for all Council meeting dates.

The practice of midwifery in Ontario is self-regulating, which means midwives are involved in determining the rules that govern the profession.

As a Council member, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the profession by helping to ensure that the public interest is protected. Your role on Council will be to act as the voice of clients and members of the public in Ontario.

The Client Relations Committee is mandated to ensure protection of the public interest by developing the policies and procedures of the College to prevent sexual abuse of clients and to define appropriate professional relations between College registrants and their clients.

• Number of meetings per year: 2
• Preparation time per meeting: 2 hours
• Attendance: 2-hour (tele/videoconference)

The Discipline Committee hears matters of professional misconduct or incompetence that are referred by a panel of the Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee.

Note: Committee members do not participate in all panels.

• Number of meeting days per year: 2
• Number of training days: 1 training workshop
• Number of hearing days per year: dependent on College’s hearing caseload
• Preparation time per hearing:
  • 0-4 hours for meetings
  • 0 hours for hearings
  • 2-6 hours (as required) for motions

Hearing Related

• Up to 1-day decision writing/review*
• Up to 1-day Deliberation time*

*May exceed one day and is dependent on length of hearing

• Attendance 1 half-day meeting (tele/videoconference)
  1/2 day of orientation (if required)
• Contested hearings typically range from 2 days to 5 days (Note: these may occur through tele/videoconference)

The Fitness to Practise Committee conducts hearings of all allegations concerning a midwife’s capacity to practise midwifery that are referred by a panel of the Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee.

Note: Committee members do not participate in all panels.

Number of meeting days per year: 1

Number of hearing days per year: dependent on hearing

Preparation time per meeting:

• 0-4 hours for meetings
• 0 hours for hearings

Attendance:

• 2 half-day meetings (tele/videoconference)
• 1/2 day of orientation (if required)
• Contested hearings typically range from 3 days to 5 days

The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) oversees all investigations into midwives’ care and conduct, including formal complaints, mandatory reports, investigations, and inquiries into a midwife’s capacity to practise.

NOTE: Committee members do not participate in all panels.

Number of meeting & panel days per year: 12-18

Preparation time per meeting: 6-8 hours

Attendance:

• 2-4 half-day meetings (tele/videoconference)
• 8-12 half-day panels (tele/videoconference)

The Quality Assurance Committee develops, establishes, and maintains programs to promote continuing competence among midwives.

NOTE: Committee members do not participate in all panels.

Number of meeting & panel days per year: 4-6

Preparation time per meeting: 3-5 hours

Attendance:

• 2-3 half-day meetings (tele/videoconference)
• 2-3 half-day panels (tele/videoconference)

The Registration Committee ensures protection of the public interest by providing direction to the College with regards to the registration process of the College.

NOTE: Committee members do not participate in all panels.

Number of meeting & panel days per year: 12-15

Preparation time per meeting: 1-4 hours

Attendance:

• 3 half-day meetings (tele/videoconference)
• 4-7 quarter-day panels (tele/videoconference)

Public participation is important and necessary in fulfilling the public interest mandate of the College. Public members who serve on College committees bring their own knowledge and expertise to the decision-making process and regulatory work.

Professional participation of midwives is critical to ensure the perspectives of practising midwives are taken into consideration when making decisions about the regulation of midwifery.