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About CNO > Council & Committees > Elections 

 Last modified October 19, 2006 

Common questions about the Second Call for Nomination for Elected Committee Member

What is the role?

The role that is up for election is to serve as a member of one of the College’s statutory committees. There are five committees to which a member can be appointed: Complaints, Discipline, Fitness to Practise, Quality Assurance and Registration. The committees make decisions about members and applicants – these decisions are critical to the College’s public protection mandate and very important to the members or applicants concerned.

What is the time commitment?

With respect to time spent at the College, we cannot be exact because that varies depending on the committee on which elected members are placed. The committees on which members may be placed, depending on vacancies, with the time commitments are:

  • Complaints – 2 days every other month with approximately 4 days reading in advance (preparatory stipend paid for the reading);
  • Discipline – varies but averages about 3 to 5 days every 2 months. Hearings range from 1 day through 5 in a row – members have the opportunity to identify for the Chair which panels would work with their schedules;
  • Fitness to Practise – varies depending on hearings but averages 2 days every other month;
  • Quality Assurance – one to two days every other month with some preparatory reading; and
  • Registration – one to two days a month with one day preparatory reading.

For Complaints, Quality Assurance and Registration, members receive the schedule of meetings for a full year at orientation over the summer. For Discipline and Fitness to Practise, members are selected by the Chair to serve on panels based on their availability. There is usually considerable advance notice of hearings since multiple parties (lawyers, panel members, court reporters, witnesses) need to be pulled together

.

The work of these committees is complex and vital to the College’s mandate. Considerable orientation is provided to committee members in advance of the first participation in decision making.

How is the Committee on Which I will Serve Selected?

The committee to which members are assigned is based on a number of factors, the two most significant being a vacancy on the committee and the members’ input on their time availability.

What about Travel Expenses and Time Away from Work?

For your information, the College covers travel expenses within specific policies. Members are required to use our travel agent and can bill the cost of the flight to the College. Hotel rooms are also billed to the College. Other expenses (e.g. meals, taxis) are claimed and then remunerated. You should not find that travel to the College costs you anything.

In addition, we pay a daily stipend of $225 for when you are at the College, in specific cases for preparatory work, and if you lose salary for travel time. Those policies are sent to candidates once the Nomination Form is received.

If I Submit my Nomination, What is the Next Step?

On receipt of your nomination paper, you will be sent a Candidate Handbook which describes the election process and your next step. Most importantly, you will need to prepare a one-page candidate information sheet to go into the voting package. That will be due at the College on March 21st. Specific guidelines and samples are included in the Candidate Handbook.

If you have any other questions, contact:

Jenna Hofbauer
Council Affairs Coordinator
jhofbauer@cnomail.org
1-800-387-5526, ext. 7566

 

 

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