The Executive Committee provides leadership to Council, facilitates the efficient and effective functioning of Council and committees, and makes decisions between Council meetings. 

Executive Committee members

Rodolfo D. Lastimosa Jr., RPN, Council Chair 
Jerry Ding, NP, Vice-Chair
Michael Hogard, RPN, Vice-Chair
Maria Sheculski, PM
Diane Thompson, PM 

Related documents

Terms of reference

The Patient Relations Committee supports CNO’s commitment to promoting safe nursing practice. Under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, the committee has two main responsibilities:

• advising Council with respect to the patient relations program, which must include measures for preventing and dealing with patient sexual abuse; and
• administering funding for therapy and counselling for patients who are named in a sexual abuse complaint or report.

Patient Relations Committee members 

Rodolfo Lastimosa, Jr., RPN, Council Chair
Jerry Ding, NP, Vice-Chair
Michael Hogard, RPN, Vice-Chair
Maria Sheculski, PM
Diane Thompson, PM

Related documents

Terms of reference 
Annual report

The Discipline Committee conducts hearings when an RN, RPN or NP has been referred by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee for alleged professional misconduct and/or incompetence.

A discipline hearing is a formal legal process. A panel of the committee hears evidence about a nurse’s practice and conduct. It then decides whether to dismiss the allegations or find that the nurse has committed professional misconduct or is incompetent.

Both parties to a hearing may call witnesses to testify at a hearing because they have information that will assist the panel in making a decision. 

Decision outcomes from the Discipline Committee can include:

• an oral reprimand
• revocation or suspension of a nurse’s certificate of registration
• restrictions or limitations on a nurse’s certificate of registration, such as independent practice restrictions
• costs or fines
• education and remedial activities, such as meetings with a regulatory expert
• the requirement to notify an employer about the committee’s decision
• employer audits of the nurse’s practice (for example, reviewing charting practices to ensure they are in line with the Documentation practice standard).

If a nurse’s certificate is revoked, they may not use the title RN, RPN or NP, identify themself as a nurse in providing service, or perform any controlled act.

Summaries of committee decisions are published in the The Standard, and on CanLII, a Canadian legal database of case commentaries and summaries. Decisions are also added to the nurse’s profile on CNO’s public register, Find a Nurse.

The Discipline Committee has established rules and guidelines that govern the hearings process. Discipline hearings are generally open to the public.

Discipline Committee members 
* Appointed committee member

Related documents

Annual report

The Fitness to Practise Committee determines whether a nurse is incapacitated and takes action to protect the public.

According to the law regulating health professions, “incapacitated” means that a nurse is “suffering from a physical or mental condition or disorder that makes it desirable in the interest of the public that the member’s certificate of registration be subject to terms, conditions or limitations, or that the member no longer be permitted to practise.”¹

If a nurse is found to be incapacitated, the committee can revoke or suspend their certificate of registration (for as long as necessary), or have specific terms, conditions or limitations attached to it.

Referrals to the committee can be resolved with a hearing or with an agreement where the nurse formally agrees that they are incapacitated and will comply with appropriate medical treatment and/or practice according to the terms of the agreement.

Fitness to Practise hearings are closed to the public and the decisions are not published. However, a note will be added on CNO’s public register, Find a Nurse, to indicate whether the nurse is allowed to practice and what restrictions (if any) are in place to protect the public.

The Fitness to Practise Committee has established rules and practice directions that govern the hearings process.

¹ Refer to Section 1(1) of the Health Professions Procedural Code of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.

Fitness to Practise Committee members
* Appointed committee member

Related documents

Annual report

The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee reviews matters related to public complaints or information CNO receives through reports. The committee determines whether a hearing is required or some other action, such as remediation or an oral caution, would address the public interest.

Depending on the matter under review, the committee considers the results of a health inquiry or misconduct investigation, or may accept a resolution proposed by the nurse and complainant.

Remediation program and caution order(s)

The committee may require a nurse to complete an education and remediation program or may issue an oral caution. If a caution is required, the nurse must appear before the committee to hear concerns and receive advice about their practice.

The goal of both the remediation program and the oral caution is to improve the nurse’s practice through education. These are not disciplinary measures and do not impose practice restrictions on the nurse’s certificate of registration. It is a chance for the nurse to reflect on the issues investigated and ensure they are practicing according to the standards going forward. Details of a nurse’s remediation program or caution are posted on CNO’s public register, Find a Nurse.

Interim orders

At any time following the receipt of a complaint or the appointment of an investigator, the committee has the authority to temporarily impose a suspension or terms, conditions or limitations on a nurse’s certificate of registration until the matter is resolved.

Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee members
*Appointed committee member

Related documents

Annual report

The Quality Assurance Committee is responsible for ensuring that members comply with all aspects of the Quality Assurance Program, including the three types of assessment: self, practice and peer. These components are designed to promote lifelong learning and continuing competence among nurses. 

Quality Assurance Committee members
*Appointed committee member

Helen Anyia, RPN, Chair
Sylvia Douglas, PM
Jeffrey Ko, RN
Sylvian Leduc, NP
Guangxia Meng, NP*
Lalitha Poonasamy, PM
Maria Sheculski, PM
Yao (Jackie) Zhai, RPN*

Related Documents

Annual report 

The Registration Committee reviews applications from applicants who want to become registrants of CNO but do not meet one or more of the registration requirements.

After considering the application and submissions, the Registration Committee may direct the Registrar and CEO to:

• issue a certificate of registration
• issue a certificate of registration with terms, conditions and limitations
• issue a certificate of registration if the applicant completes specified training or additional exams
• refuse to issue a certificate of registration.

The committee may make other decisions as is appropriate (such as referring an applicant for an independent medical assessment).

Decisions of the Registration Committee can be appealed to the Health Professional Appeal and Review Board. A decision of the Review Board can be appealed further to the Divisional Court of Ontario.

Registration Committee members
* Appointed committee member

Fidelia Osime, PM, Chair
Helen Anyia, RPN
Alexis Lamsen, RN
Joy Navaroj, RN*
Diane Thompson, PM
Shari Wilson, PM
Dheeraj Jha, PM

Related documents and links
Annual report
Appealing registration decisions

The Conduct Committee is responsible for investigating written complaints about any potential breach of CNO’s Council and Committee Code of Conduct, which is part of our by-laws.

The committee tries to resolve matters informally. If it can’t find a resolution after an investigation, the committee reports the outcome to Council with its recommendations. This committee meets only when a person who believes a Council or committee member has breached the Code, submits a written complaint.

Conduct Committee members

Hum Law Firm, Chair
Kimberly Wagg, RPN
Patricia Sullivan, RN
Diane Thompson, Public Member
Shari Wilson, Public Member

Related documents

Terms of reference

The Finance & Risk Committee advises Council on the financial affairs of CNO and assists Council in fulfilling its fiduciary and governance responsibilities with respect to financial reporting, internal control systems, audit and compliance conduct, and enterprise risk management.

Finance & Risk Committee members

Jerry Ding, Vice-Chair NP, Co-Chair
Michael Hogard, Vice-Chair RPN, Co-Chair
Rodolfo D. Lastimosa Jr. RPN, Council Chair
Doreen Bankole, RN
Alexis Lamsden, RN
Shari Wilson, PM
Joe Nunes, Advisory Committee on Human Resources Chair

Related documents

Terms of reference

The Governance Committee advises Council on governance practices, policies and processes. The committee helps Council to operate effectively and align with regulatory best practices. The committee supports Council in meeting its governance accountabilities by overseeing evaluations and orientation.

Governance Committee members

Rodolfo Lastimosa, Jr., RPN, Council Chair
Jerry Ding, NP, Vice-Chair
Michael Hogard, RPN, Vice-Chair
Maria Sheculski, PM
Diane Thompson, PM

Related documents

Terms of reference

The Nominating Committee helps Council identify potential committee members with the competencies and attributes (the experience, knowledge, skills and character) needed to fulfill their roles and CNO’s purpose to protect the public by promoting safe nursing practice.

The Nominating Committee also fulfills specific roles related to the election of Council members and the Executive Committee and makes recommendations to Council about candidates for committee appointments.

Nominating Committee members

Morgan Krauter, NP, Chair
Sue Haywood, appointed public member
Fidelia Osime, PM
Tom Potter, appointed public member
Patricia Sullivan-Taylor, RN

Related documents

Terms of reference
Competency profile