Let me start by thanking all of you who were engaged in providing feedback on the recent circulation of by-law amendments to help guide CCO moving forward. There was a great deal of feedback provided, and Council carefully considered all feedback before approving various amendments at the Council meeting on September 14, 2019. We also appreciate the turnout of guests who were interested in attending the Council meeting on September 14, 2019 and on hearing the discussion concerning the various important matters reflected on Council’s agenda.
Amendments to By-laws, Guidelines and Policies
Guideline G-008: Business Practices and Policy P-004: Advertising Committee Protocol
Members and stakeholders should note that there was extensive feedback concerning draft amendments to Guideline G-008: Business Practices, as well as draft amendments to the advertising provisions including amendments to Policy P-004: Advertising Committee Protocol. The Quality Assurance Committee is meeting on October 8, 2019 to review the feedback concerning Guideline G-008: Business Practices, and the Advertising Committee is meeting on November 8, 2019 to review the feedback concerning Policy P-004: Advertising Committee Protocol. I anticipate that both committees will have recommendations for Council’s consideration for the Council meeting on November 28, 2019.
By-law 16: Professional Liability Insurance
The feedback concerning proposed amendments to By-law 16: Professional Liability Insurance was far less extensive than the feedback concerning other aspects of CCO’s circulation on June 25, 2019, as further clarified in the President’s Message of August 23, 2019. The feedback re: By-law 16: Professional Liability Insurance is linked here.
At the meeting on September 14, 2019, the following recommendation was approved by Council:
That Council approve the amendments circulated to By-law 16: Professional Liability Insurance as circulated to stakeholders including members to be effective with the 2021 renewal.
Please note that the increased limits are effective for 2021 (although many members already have the increased amounts in place).
By-law 6: Election of Council Members
CCO received a great deal of feedback and submissions concerning the proposed amendments to By-law 6: Elections. The Executive Committee carefully considered all of the feedback before making recommendations to Council. CCO is required to post meeting information including the information upon which policy decisions are made. Council determined that the public interest was best served by being fully transparent on all submissions and feedback. Council was assured, however, that anyone who was the subject of a personal comment would be given an opportunity to respond to the comment and such a response would, absent exceptional circumstances, be posted with the package as soon as possible after it was received.
Please note that the feedback provided is the opinion or views of the author of the feedback, and is not necessarily CCO’s opinion or view. In the interests of transparency, Council determined that the feedback which Council reviewed should be publicly available. Some of the feedback has already been widely circulated by other stakeholders. If any specific individual or organization who is mentioned in any of the feedback would like to provide a clarifying comment or respond to the feedback, CCO will review and post that response (subject to any legal advice). Please provide any clarifying comments by Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. so the comments can be posted promptly with the feedback.
There are some cross outs on the feedback concerning By-law 6: Elections, but the crossed out feedback will be considered in relation to the other matters outside of By-law 6: Elections (some individuals responded to all aspects of CCO’s circulation in one letter).
At the meeting on September 14, 2019, Council approved amendments to By-law 6: Elections which dedicates one of the three Toronto positions to an academic position which would be a voting position on Council. The academic position would not be selected by Council, but would be elected by the full CCO membership. The faculty who would be eligible would be those listed as faculty by CMCC. The amendments do not require changes to the Chiropractic Act, 1991 and are authorized through the by-laws. The wording of By-law 6: Elections as approved is linked here.
Respectful, Professional Communications
On Sunday, September 15, 2019, CCO Council and staff participated in a facilitated session dealing with the broad topic of professional, respectful communications. One aspect of the dialogue was how to ensure communications during elections are professional, respectful, and focused on CCO’s public interest mandate. We hope to have in place mechanisms to ensure professional discourse which may include for example involving members of an election review committee comprised of a Council member from another RHPA college to review all election material before it is distributed. The Executive is reviewing the various recommendations that were discussed on September 15, 2019, and will have further recommendations for Council’s consideration, which we expect to have approved before the CCO elections in March 2020.
Given the amendment to the by-laws, Spring 2020 will include elections in five districts, namely District 1 (a one year by-election), District 4, District 5, District 6, and new District 7 (Academic). It is in the public interest as well as the profession’s interest to ensure competent chiropractors committed to CCO’s mission, vision, values and strategic objectives are interested in running for a seat on CCO Council and I hope there will continue to be engagement and interest in CCO’s elections.
Future Direction of Health Regulation in Ontario
One of the important aspects of CCO’s discussions over the past weekend included a consideration of the movement towards smaller, more nimble, competency/skills based selection criteria for all members of Council. CCO will be submitting a letter of support for the general principles articulated by leaders in regulation, including for example a proposal from the College of Nurses of Ontario entitled Final Report: A Vision for the Future – Leading in Regulatory Governance Task Force (dated May 2017).
CCO Moving!
CCO expects to be moving operations to 59 Hayden, 8th floor by early November 2019. Stay tuned for further details.
Thank you!
I appreciate all stakeholder involvement in the important work that CCO does. Please know that we are working hard to address many competing priorities and are well aware that the lens through which CCO’s work must be viewed is that of public interest protection. Thank you for continuing to be involved and engaged in CCO’s mandate and responsibility.