MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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If you have read the email that alerts you to
Council decisions, you will already know that
Council is recommending a $100 fee increase
to renew an independent practice certificate.
This increase, if approved, would bring the fee
to $1725.
This was not an easy decision. Public and
physician members of Council understand the
financial challenges currently facing physicians,
and I can assure you that we are reluctant
to add to your burden. However, Council’s
foremost responsibility is to ensure that the
College can fulfill its statutory duties in a
timely manner. This means having the neces-
sary resources in place to sustain a regulatory
system that governs in the public interest.
This year, the Registrar required all depart-
ments to find savings in their budgets, which
they did. But the reality is that more resources
are needed. Across a full spectrum of investiga-
tive and legal measures, we are experiencing a
concerning growth in activity that is not stabi-
lizing or decreasing. The result is an increase in
the number of investigations, ICRC decisions,
compliance cases, discipline referrals, and open
hearings. The complexity of cases is also chang-
ing, with a greater proportion of cases catego-
rized as high-risk based on potential patient
and public safety issues.
Fulfilling these statutory obligations is not
optional – the College must comply with
the required programs and, in many cases,
prescribed processes and timelines in order to
protect the public interest. We have asked for
discretion in relation to investigating certain
matters, and government, so far, has been un-
able to grant that. Numerous issues – some not
always expected – also arrive at the College and
require – based on risk, public safety, stake-
holder relationships or direction by govern-
ment – concentrated work efforts which often
involves numerous departments and staff. The
opioid strategy, the Medical Assistance in Dy-
ing legislation, and Bill 87 implementation are
all examples of external drivers that consume
6
DIALOGUE ISSUE 4, 2017
resources.
We have heard from some physicians who
have accused this College of being the most
expensive regulator. This is not true. I ask that
you refer to the chart on page 24. You will see
that the CPSO is in the lower half of the spec-
trum when compared with the other medical
regulatory authorities across Canada.
We are unable to tie our fees to levels of
physician remuneration, and have had years
when we did not increase the fees despite a
better contractual environment. It is based on
need assessed on an annual basis.
The College is committed to being transpar-
ent about its finances and its resource require-
ments to operate programs. The Finance
Committee regularly provides detailed reports
to the public Council meetings and all Com-
mittees and College programs report regularly
on College activities and benchmarks.
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This is my last letter as the College President.
I thank my colleagues at Council, whose
warm support I have deeply appreciated. I feel
particula