Council & Committees

Expectations for Council and Committee Members

Much of the work of the College is conducted by committees that are accountable to the Council. Council and committee members are expected to:

Understand and fulfill their role

To effectively fulfill their role, Council members must prioritize decisions that serve the public interest. They need to understand the roles of the Council, committees, and staff, and maintain respectful working relationships with these groups and other stakeholders. It is also crucial to respect confidentiality as outlined in Section 36 of the RHPA and to identify and address conflicts of interest.

Possess the necessary knowledge

Council and Committee members must stay informed about policies and legislation affecting College procedures, as well as the College’s strategic direction. They should review all meeting materials in advance and identify any additional information that could enhance discussions and decision-making. It is also important for them to raise concerns during meetings and communicate decisions and their rationale to individuals and groups as requested by the College.

Effectively participate in decision-making

Council and Committee members should adjust their personal schedules to attend meetings and actively contribute to discussions and decision-making. They must identify and attempt to resolve concerns with the committee chairperson, and if necessary, escalate unresolved issues to the Council President. Members should offer relevant expertise to support decision-making and suggest agenda items promptly. It is also important for both Council and Committee members to respect the knowledge and expertise of their colleagues and staff to maintain healthy working relationships.

Learn more about Council elections, which are held in the fall. Eligibility criteria are outlined in section 6.04 of the College by-laws.

The College Council

Council serves as the board of directors of the College. It is responsible for making decisions and policies that are in the public interest and consistent with legislation. Council helps ensure optometrists continue to provide safe, ethical and high-quality care to patients.

Council meetings are open to the public. You can find information about upcoming Council meetings on the Upcoming Events & Important Dates page.

The Optometry Act sets out the composition of the College Council. Council can consist of 16 to 18 members. Eight or nine Council members are optometrists (professional members). They are elected by their peers through regional elections. Seven or eight Council members bring the perspective of the public to Council decisions. These public members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (provincial cabinet). One Council member is appointed from the faculty at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry.

Every Council member is appointed to at least one statutory committee.

College Committees

Committees report to Council and are responsible for ensuring College policies are implemented and enforced. They make decisions that reflect the College’s mandate to protect the public interest.

Committees are comprised of both public members and registrants. Public members are appointed by the provincial cabinet. Registrants are optometrists who may also be Council members. All committee members have full voting rights.

The Regulated Health Professions Act requires colleges to establish seven statutory committees. The College establishes other committees and working groups as needed to help meet its mission and objectives.

All Council and committee members sign agreements that outline the College’s code of conduct, conflict of interest, confidentiality, and harassment policies. The Council and Committee Agreement is signed on an annual basis.