Meeting Outcomes

Confirming our purpose, adapting how we govern

During its most recent meeting, our Council passed a series of motions that represent significant change to how the Ontario College of Teachers will be governed.

What remains unchanged, however, is the purpose of Council itself – to act in the public interest to set policy direction and make recommendations to the government.

Council has recommended that the government amend its Act to reduce the size of Council to 18 from 37 members. This reduction reflects a contemporary model of governance with a smaller policy-making board with committees and rosters to carry out their work. This approach reflects similar changes in professional regulatory bodies nationally and internationally.

The new model will result in greater opportunity for both public and professional member voices.

The Ontario College of Teachers is one of approximately 40 provincial self-regulators. It has the privilege of establishing standards for entry to the teaching profession in Ontario. It accredits the programs and courses that enable people to become Ontario Certified Teachers and remain current in their practice. It establishes Standards of Practice and professional ethics. It also has the public’s trust to resolve complaints against its members.

As regulatory governance evolves, we will work to ensure that we have professional and public voices working together to serve our common interest – the well-being of Ontario’s students.

Nicole van Woudenberg, OCT
Chair of Council

Michael Salvatori, OCT
Registrar and CEO

Summary – February 28/March 1, 2019                          

At its February 28/March 1, 2019 meeting, College Council: 

• welcomed newest publicly appointed Council members Vincent Rinaldo, OCT, of Stoney Creek, and Bob Cooper, OCT, of North York
• received a presentation from Ontario Teachers’ Federation president Diane Dewing about proposed changes to Council’s governance structure
• recommended to the Minister of Education that the College’s Act be amended to reduce the composition of Council from 37 to 18 members
• recommended to the Minister of Education that the College’s Act be amended to establish a Council with an equal number of members from the profession and appointed members
• recommended that the Minister of Education amend the College’s Act to provide Council with the authority to establish a selection process for Council members
• recommended asking the Minister of Education to amend the College’s Act to establish statutory, regulatory and the Standards of Practice and Education committees with individuals other than Council members, selected following a robust, transparent process
• recommended asking the Minister of Education to amend the College’s Act to ensure equal representation of professional and public members on each statutory committee
• recommended asking the Minister of Education to amend the College’s Act to establish staggered, three-year terms for Council and committee members, renewable up to one time (6 years)
• recommended that the Minister of Education amend the College’s Act and regulation to establish two-year, renewable terms for Council and committee chair positions
• recommended asking the government that the Council Chair position be full-time, be a member of Council selected by Council, with duties focused on ensuring an effective Council
• recommended that the Minister of Education make regulation changes to establish the Executive Committee as a committee of the whole
• approved that the Governance and Nominating Committee establishes tools for formal annual review of the effectiveness of Council, committees and chairs
• approved to rename two committees and adjust their mandate in bylaws: the Finance Committee to the Audit and Finance Committee and the Governance Committee to the Governance and Nominating Committee.
• recommended internationally educated teachers also complete accredited teacher education programs just like Ontario teachers in order to be licensed
• confirmed appointment of College members to the roster of panelists for the Discipline Committee and Investigation Committee