At the March Council meeting, Council members approved the 2024-25 budget (a balanced budget that includes a planned freeze on registrant fees), received an update on our Operational Plan, approved public consultations on two College by-laws, and more. Our quarterly Council meetings are open to the public. We post the Council package publicly in advance of each meeting. Take a look at our March Council highlights below.
March Council Training
Council and committee members attend a training day prior to Council meetings each quarter. On March 26, there were three training sessions held via video conference.
Luisa Ritacca, Managing Partner, Stockwood Barristers held a refresher session to review and discuss the terms of reference of serving on these committees including the rules of procedure for conducting Discipline and Fitness to Practise hearings.
Eden Dales, a registered social worker held a session providing a comprehensive introduction to trauma informed care and trauma informed professional regulation. The core principles of trauma informed care were reviewed, with tools for immediate practice implementation. Trauma informed procedural practices for professional regulation and discipline were discussed.
Anita Ashton, Deputy Registrar & Chief Operating Officer at the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario gave Council and Committee members an overview of how trauma shows up in our different regulatory areas, our power and privilege and the impact on the people we serve, both the public and registrants, supporting staff, Council and committees and what trauma-informed practices we might employ.
2024-25 Budget Approved by Council
Each year in March, the Council reviews and approves the annual operating budget. The budget was reviewed by the Executive Committee in February in advance of its presentation to the Council. In preparing the budget, staff conducted a detailed analysis of past expenses, reassessed strategic initiatives and operational plans, and projected net assets alongside a five-year outlook.
We are proud to share that Council has approved a balanced budget for the College in fiscal year 2024-25. The previous five-year outlook proposed a balanced budget by 2026-27, we were able to find significant savings and have balanced the budget earlier than anticipated, without raising registrant fees. This outlook includes a planned freeze on registrant fees for at least the next three fiscal years.
Over the last fiscal year, the College made progress on key operational and strategic initiatives, including office downsizing, the digitization of all files, and the Competency-Based Assessment Program. We anticipate that downsizing our office space and digitizing our files will provide long-term savings for the College.
The 2024-25 budget was developed collaboratively, with a focus on key strategic and operational priorities including: ensuring effective resource allocation; advancing our Equity Framework; promoting staff learning and development; and ensuring registrant fees are used responsibly.
You can read the College’s 2024-25 budget in the March Council materials here.
Operational Plan Update
Each year, the Council approves an annual operational plan that outlines planned initiatives to meet the desired outcomes of the strategic plan. Council was presented with a progress report that visually represents the work that was accomplished in 2023 and outlines the College’s planned activities for 2024 and 2025. This report starts on page 43 of the Council package.
Consultations on General By-law and Fees and Remuneration By-law
Council approved launching public consultations on proposed changes to the General By-law and the Fees and Remuneration By-law. The proposed changes to the by-laws are open to a 60-day public consultation to Monday, June 3, 2024. Following the 60-day consultation, both by-laws will be brought to Council for final review and approval at its June 2024 meeting. You can review changes to the General By-law here and give your comments, and review changes to the Fees and Remuneration By-law here and give your comments.
Providing Graduates of Canadian Midwifery Education Programs a Direct Pathway to Ontario Registration
The Registration Regulation lists three categories of applicants eligible for registration in Ontario:
- Applicants who have a baccalaureate degree in health sciences (midwifery) from a university in Ontario.
- Applicants who hold an out-of-province certificate that is equivalent to the certificate of registration.
- Applicants who have qualifications that are equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in health sciences (midwifery) from a university in Ontario.
Historically, there had been no direct pathway to registration for individuals who completed a Canadian midwifery education program outside of Ontario. Graduates of these programs were required to register in their respective province/territory and maintain an active registration before becoming eligible to apply in Ontario under the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009 and section 9 of the Registration Regulation.
The Registration Regulation allows Council to identify qualifications that are equivalent to an Ontario midwifery degree for the purpose of registration. At their March meeting, Council passed a motion to add Canadian midwifery education programs outside of Ontario that are accredited by the Canadian Association for Midwifery Education’s (CAMEd) Accreditation Council to the list of qualifications deemed equivalent to the Ontario midwifery degree, creating a direct pathway to registration in Ontario for Canadian midwifery graduates.