Position Statement
Published: December 2019
Position
Good regulatory outcomes depend on regulatory organizations to not only develop, but to administer, well designed rules that ensure the public interest. Regulatory integrity inspires public trust. This means that for a regulator to be effective in its mandate, its behaviours must be objective, impartial, consistent, and free from conflict.
The College of Veterinarians of Ontario is committed to the effective regulation of veterinary medicine within the province. To achieve this the College Council believes in maintaining a clear understanding of the current and emerging risks and potential harms that may arise in the practice of the profession and within its regulatory accountability. Our approach to effectiveness is evidence informed and includes broad consultation, a deliberate focus on legitimate public interest matters, and an emphasis on independence in decision making. Furthermore, all College programs and policies are dedicated to supporting harm prevention and reduction in veterinary care and to promoting professionalism in veterinary practice.
In demonstrating its responsible leadership to society in the regulation and the governance of the veterinary profession in Ontario, the College systematically introduces regulatory policy and regularly measures its effectiveness in achieving both its overall mandate and specific strategic policy objectives. The effectiveness of the College is regularly reported publicly.
References
College of Veterinarians of Ontario, Public Policy Decision Tree, adapted from Council on Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE)
College of Veterinarians of Ontario, Outcomes Focused Regulation, 2019
O’Neill, Onora, What we Don’t Understand about Trust, TED Talk
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2010, Risk and Regulatory Policy: Improving the Governance of Risk
Professional Standards Authority, October 2015, Right Touch Regulation
Revisited Professional Standards Authority, October 2016, Regulation Rethought
Sparrow, Malcolm K., April 2016, What is a Risk Based Regulator? Presentation, Toronto, ON Sparrow, Malcolm K., April 2008, The Character of Harms: Operational Challenges in Control
College publications contain practice parameters and standards which should be considered by all Ontario veterinarians in the care of their patients and in the practice of the profession. College publications are developed in consultation with the profession and describe current professional expectations. It is important to note that these College publications may be used by the College or other bodies in determining whether appropriate standards of practice and professional responsibilities have been maintained. The College encourages you to refer to the website (www.cvo.org) to ensure you are referring to the most recent version of any document.