Note: This article was originally published in the Autumn/Winter 2023 edition of our On Call newsletter and has not been updated.
Council Trainings
Council and Committee Members attend a training day prior to Council each quarter. On October 11, there were three training sessions and Council and Committee Members attended both in person and via video conference.
Rania El-Muggamar, an Anti-Oppression Consultant and Liberation Educator, held the morning’s training session on anti-racism and anti-oppression in board governance. Her workshop guided Council and Committee Members towards implementing measurable, goal-oriented long-term equity, meaningful inclusion, and anti-oppressive practices.
In the afternoon, Council Member Isabelle Milot presented on the evolving models of midwifery care, including sharing her experiences and lessons running a postpartum clinic for the past two years.
Finally, Erica Richler from SML Law presented an engaging discussion on identifying, preventing, and addressing conflicts of interest in the College’s context.
Council Meeting
Council meetings are always open to the public. We post the Council package publicly in advance of each meeting. If you are interested in any of the items discussed at Council, click here to read the full Council package and briefing notes related to each item.
Budget Re-forecast
Council voted to approve a revised budget for 2023-24. Due to postponed spending from the last fiscal year and newly anticipated spending adjustments in key areas, the initial budget for 2023-24 no longer provided the most accurate financial position. The revised budget enables the College to continue to deliver our mandate and strategic priorities while also measuring the College’s performance against a more accurate budget.
External Auditor Review
Council reviewed the Annual Assessment of the External Auditor from the Executive Committee. Council’s Executive Committee uses a tool created by the College for reviewing the external auditor annually. In addition to the annual review process, the Committee uses a comprehensive review tool every three years.
Council voted to reappoint Hilborn, L.L.P as the College’s external auditor for the 2023-24 fiscal period.
Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023
On September 25, 2023, the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023 (ICHSCA) came into force. The ICHSCA repeals and replaces the Independent Health Facilities Act, 1990. The College recently met with the Ministry and separately with the two Ontario Midwife-Led Birth Centres to discuss the changes.
The College’s Midwife-Led Birth Centre Facility Standards and Clinical Practice Parameters have been updated to reference the new legislation. This update was provided to Council for their information.
Executive Committee Composition
Council elected the members of its Executive Committee at the October meeting. The Executive Committee performs governance, audit and finance, and risk oversight responsibilities. The Executive Committee is composed of the chair, two vice-chairs, and two members of Council. Congratulations to this year’s committee, comprised of: Claire Ramlogan-Salanga, RM, Chair; Edan Thomas, RM, Vice-Chair (Professional); Donald Strickland, Vice-Chair (Public); Marianna Kaminska, Public-At-Large
Isabelle Milot, RM, Professional-At-Large.
New Council Members at the October Meeting
The College welcomes new Council Members Maryam Rahimi-Chatri, RM and Tina Walia-Rao.
Maryam was elected to Council in the June, 2023 election. Prior to joining Council, she served on the Registration Committee of the College of Midwives of Ontario for three years as a Non-Council Member.
Tina Walia-Rao is a new public Council Member and was appointed in July, 2023.
Both Maryam and Tina joined the October, 2023 in-person Council Meeting
Thank You to Outgoing Council Members
The College would like to extend our thanks to Karen McKenzie for her thoughtful contributions to Council over the past three years. As a member of Council, Karen sat on the Client Relations Committee; the Discipline Committee; the Fitness to Practise Committee; the Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee; and the Registration Committee.
We also thank Oliver Okafor who was on Council for two years of his appointed three-year term. In that time Oliver was a member of the Registration Committee; the Client Relations Committee; the Discipline Committee; and the Fitness to Practise Committee.
We would also like to thank Robyn Berman for her contributions to Council over the past year. Robyn sat on the Registration Committee; the Discipline Committee; and the Fitness to Practise Committees.