By-Laws Amendments: Election of Executive Committee and Annual General Meeting
Feedback Deadline: September 08, 2023
Background
Periodically, the College Council reviews its By-Laws, or sections of the By-Laws, that assists with maintaining the effective governance of the Council itself. At its June meeting, Council reviewed two sections of the current By-Laws and have confirmed draft amendments.
Changes to the By-Laws require public consultation for 60 days prior to final approval of the Council. Feedback from the consultation is provided to Council for consideration prior to final approval. This consultation is open until September 8, 2023.
First Proposed By-Laws Amendment
Section 6: Election of the Executive Committee
What is Proposed?
Often when Council is electing its Executive Committee, there can be more than one councillor interested in an Executive Committee position. Such interest in Executive Committee is very positive and welcome. Occasionally, however, there can be a tie in the vote.
The Council is proposing a change to the mechanism used to break a tie in order to assure a more robust opportunity for the Council to make their final selection. What is proposed is the opportunity for two rounds of voting, rather than one, when a tie between two candidates exists.
Why is this amendment proposed?
At its December 2022 election of Executive Committee, there was a tie for one position on the Executive Committee after the first round of voting. The current By-Laws state a tie must be broken by lot (pulling a name from a hat) by the Registrar after a first tie. The current set of By-Laws were approved in 2018 and there has not been a need to test the rules for a tie until now.
The current rule for breaking a tie seemed to interfere with a more natural process of allowing a second round of voting to determine if the tie could be broken after additional commentary from the candidates. Council directed a legal review of this section of the By-Laws. The proposed change affords for a more fulsome process in the event of a tie.
Second Proposed By-Laws Amendments
Sections 1, 4, 21, 22: Elimination of the annual meeting of members.
What is Proposed?
The requirement to hold an annual meeting of members is linked to the College’s obligations as a body corporate under the Not-For-Profit Corporations Act. In 2021, the Corporations Act was amended to remove any obligation of the College to hold meetings of members, which is consistent with regulatory organizations across Ontario. As a result all sections of the By-Laws that apply to an annual meeting of members are no longer required and no longer have any authority.
Why are these set of amendments proposed?
The amendments will align the College with its limited statutory obligations consistent with the Corporations Act. The amendments assist in assuring that the College Council has final approval of the annual financial audit, and that the section on an annual member meeting with the rules for that session be removed as the obligation no longer exists. With these changes finalized the By-Laws will be in alignment with other legislation. In recognizing this change, the College Council has committed to holding interactive sessions periodically with licensed members to help facilitate a two way exchange on current topics concerning the practice of veterinary medicine in Ontario.