GOVERNANCE
Helping Shape
Governance Reform
C
ouncil has put forward several recom-
mendations that, if adopted, will signifi-
cantly change the governance structure
of this College.
Over the last several years, there has been an in-
creasing call to modernize the oversight of regulatory
bodies around the world. The recommendations put
forward by Council are intended to ensure the College
has a role in helping shape governance reform.
There appears to be a universal understanding that
change is necessary, said Dr. Peeter Poldre, the Col-
lege’s new President, noting that the legislation which
governs health-care professionals is more than 25 years
old. And while it is ultimately up to the government
Council has given
itself a timeline of
three years to put a
new model fully in
place. The College
is recommending
the following
changes:
Smaller Boards
(12-16 members)
Smaller-sized groups
are believed to be able
to communicate more
effectively and reach
decisions more efficiently
than larger ones. The
current size of Council is
33.
to decide how it will proceed, the College’s extensive
experience can help inform the government’s deci-
sions, he said.
“I think a real danger exists if we stand on the side-
lines and simply watch changes unfold without provid-
ing our input or participation. It is much better that we
are involved earlier, when we can proactively influence
the process of change,” he said.
The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) has been
leading the charge on governance reform, and while
the CPSO and the CNO share a similar vision in
many respects, there is one significant difference. The
CPSO’s plan for reform envisions a board which re-
tains some elected positions of professional members.
Board Composition
(50/50 public member/
physician member board)
Literature suggests that
councils that regulate
health professions have,
as a minimum, an equal
number of public and
professional members,
to ensure that purely
professional concerns
are not thought to
dominate their work.
Currently, there are 14
public members and 19
physician members.
Separation
between Board and
Statutory Committees
Council has previously
advocated for this
separation, believing that
the adoption of an entirely
independent adjudication
process promotes public
confidence and clarity of
roles. A separation also
allows the board to focus
on strategy and oversight.
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ISSUE 4, 2018 DIALOGUE
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