Public Consultation: Modernizing the Council Election Process

CPSM requests feedback from registrants, stakeholders, and the general public regarding the amendments to the process.

Background  

Earlier this year, the Executive Committee of Council identified a need to enhance the current Council election process. A working group of Council members reviewed the election process, including a review of the election processes at other Medical Regulatory Authorities. They presented recommendations to Council, which decided to adopt the use of a skills and diversity matrix to solicit applicants for election to fill vacant Council positions.  

Council, and ultimately the public, benefit greatly from the diversity of skills Councilors possess, such as leadership experience, varied expertise in fields and practice settings, geographic diversity, and other attributes.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta recently adopted similar changes to their election models (see CPSO Board Election and CPSA Council Elections). 

The Challenge & need for a change 

Currently, there are eight elected Councillors. Seven Councillors represent four electoral districts:

Winnipeg – 4 seats

North – 1 seat

East – 1 seat

West – 1 seat

And one associate registrant who is either a clinical assistant, physician assistant, resident or medical student is also elected to Council.

On a rotational schedule, one or more seats become open and are filled through an election held in May.

In the current process: 

• A notice is sent to registrants in the electoral district(s) where a seat is becoming open, inviting them to seek nominations. The nomination is based on the geographical location of the primary practice. This process has not generated significant interest amongst registrants. 
• If only one candidate per electoral district runs, they are elected by acclamation.
• In the event no one puts their name forward, CPSM must appoint a candidate.

Council wants a process that encourages participation. Simply stated, the profession benefits when numerous qualified candidates seek election to Council. 

Proposed Modernization

1. Developing a skills matrix (Councillor Profile)

The starting point for effective governance is identifying the necessary skills Council requires to carry out its responsibilities. 

With this skills matrix (Council Profile) Council can actively identify specific skill sets they require. Council expects it will motivate registrants to put their name forward or nominate others for election if particular skills are identified, valued, and sought.  

How the skills matrix was developed:

The Working Group reviewed an extensive list of interpersonal and professional skills and diversity attributes, prioritizing them by importance to governance. The list was presented to Council, who reviewed, refined and finalized the list. While all of the skills and diversity attributes were seen as important, there was consensus about the key ones to be included in the matrix for Council selection.

View the proposed DRAFT Council Profile. 

2. Establishing a Nomination Committee

A Nomination Committee would be established to oversee and administer the nomination process.

Therefore, the proposed amendments to the Affairs of the College Bylaw are:

1.    Establish a Nomination Committee.

2.    Empower the Nomination Committee to:

a.    establish policies and procedures to ensure the integrity, fairness, and transparency of the nomination process

b.    develop the skills matrix (referred to as – Council Profile)

c.    develop an application form for candidates to run for election

d.    identify and solicit candidates

e.    evaluate candidates

3.    Enable all eligible candidates to stand for election and create an appeal process for those unsuccessful applicants to have their eligibility and qualifications reviewed by the Executive Committee. 

3. Length of service on Council 

Council believes it is important to revitalize Council membership with new people with fresh perspectives. Council is proposing that anyone who has served as President or who has served on Council for eight or more years will be ineligible to be a candidate for election. It should be noted that this restriction is more stringent than The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) which prohibits anyone who has served on Council for 12 consecutive years from being a member of Council.

4. Electoral Districts 

A challenge is how to best achieve appropriate geographical representation on Council. The RHPA limits the number of Council members, and the current number cannot be increased. As stated above, there are seven elected registrant Councillors representing four electoral districts.

Approximately 75% of registrants have their primary practice location in Winnipeg. However, Winnipeg’s population is approximately 55% of Manitoba’s population. There are five regional health authorities, which means that at least one regional health authority does not have specific representation unless Winnipeg’s representation is to be reduced to three Councillors (which would be 43% of elected registrant positions).

The proposed amendment is to create two electoral districts. Winnipeg with four Councillors and a Rural District with three Councillors. 

A criterion of the Council Profile is appropriate geographic diversity. Accordingly, in any election year for a vacant Rural Council position, the Nomination Committee would specifically seek to nominate candidates based upon their primary practice location so that the Rural Councillors are representative of the different regions

5. Entitlement to vote 

Currently, registrants can only vote for candidates in the electoral district of their primary practice location. This means that Rural registrants can only vote once every 4 years, and Winnipeg registrants can vote every two years. Council believes that this does not encourage participation in the election of Councillors.

The proposed amendment permits registrants to vote for candidates regardless of the electoral district in which their primary practice location is located. For example, a registrant whose primary practice is in Thompson will be eligible to vote for candidates in a Rural election as well as a Winnipeg election.

6. How these changes will work 

The proposed amendments, if adopted, will come into effect for the 2026 Council elections. The terms of the Councillors representing the North Electoral District and the East Electoral District as well as the Associate Registrant end in June 2026. 

There will be elections for two Council positions for the Rural Electoral District and the Associate Registrant position.

1. 1. The Nomination Committee will issue a call for candidates sometime after January 15, 2026. This call for candidates will include the Council Profile. 
   2. Potential candidates will submit an application form identifying the criteria on the Council Profile that they have. The Nomination Committee will also solicit potential candidates to submit an application.
   3. The Nomination Committee will review all the applications and nominate individuals to run for election. The more individuals running for election, the better; however, the Nomination Committee may refuse to nominate someone who has submitted an application. Anyone whose application is denied may appeal that decision to the Executive Committee.
   4. Once the slate of candidates is finalized, an election will be held in the normal course. However, the significant difference is that registrants will be entitled to vote for candidates running in both the Rural Electoral District and the Winnipeg Electoral District.

This process is for elected Councillors only. Public representatives on Council are government or CPSM-appointed and follow a different process.

Click on image to enlarge

How to submit your feedback

1. Review the proposed amendments above or in the Affairs of the College Bylaw. 
2. Submit your comments in writing by email to: CPSMconsultation@cpsm.mb.ca

Or drop your feedback off in person at:

The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba

1000-1661 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3J 3T7

The deadline for feedback is Sunday, November 16, at 11:59 p.m. CST

We thank you in advance for your time and input. You can find more information about our public consultation process here.