College Council met on Wednesday, September 21, 2016. Here are some highlights:
Thanks to Outgoing Council President
Council Vice-President Dr. Pooya Hemami presented a certificate of recognition to outgoing President Dr. Thomas-A. Noël, who will be finishing his term in January after nine years of service. The College is grateful for his outstanding contributions to public protection.
2017 Draft Budget Reviewed
Council reviewed the draft 2017 budget. The budget proposes that once again there be no increase to members’ annual renewal fee. The fee has remained unchanged at $945 + HST since 2012.
Upcoming Circulation: Changes to the Registration Regulation
Council approved circulation of a number of proposed amendments to the Registration Regulation, including a proposal to eliminate the Academic Certificate of Registration. The Registration Committee, which tabled the amendment, believes this change would remove bias from the current legislation and enhance public protection.
The proposal will circulate to members with two previously proposed additions to the Registration Regulation: a nonpractising status and a good character requirement clause. Attached to the nonpractising status amendment is a proposal to change the fee schedule in the by-laws.
Watch your email for this upcoming circulation.
Approved for Submission: Changes to the Optometry Act, Designated Drugs Regulation, and Controlled Acts
After reviewing stakeholder feedback, Council approved for submission to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care several proposed amendments to the Optometry Act, Designated Drugs Regulation (DDR), and Controlled Acts.
Pending Ministry approval, the following would come into force:
Amendments to the DDR would abandon the list currently found in the regulation that specifies which drugs optometrists can prescribe, replacing it with the authority for practitioners to prescribe all Health Canada–approved topical and oral drugs within the scope of practice of optometry. They would also allow optometrists to dispense drugs for the sole purpose of trialling a therapy.
Changes to the Optometry Act would enable practitioners to remove superficial foreign bodies from the cornea.
Changes to Controlled Acts would allow optometrists to apply soundwaves for diagnostic ultrasound in order to perform corneal pachymetry or A/B scan ultrasonography.
The proposals were circulated to members earlier this year. The College is grateful for the excellent response. Later this fall, the College will submit these proposals to the Ministry.
Sexual Abuse and Boundary Violations
As part of its mandate to prevent and deal with the sexual abuse of patients, the Patient Relations Committee has produced an educational document for the public titled “What to Expect During an Optometric Exam.” This concise guide outlines acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in the patient–practitioner relationship. Council approved the document for publication. Look for it this fall in your inbox.
Council Meeting Minutes
Minutes of previous Council meetings are available on the College website. The minutes of the June 20, 2016 meeting are available here.
The next Council meeting will be held on Monday, January 16, 2017 at the College office, 65 St. Clair Ave. E., Suite 900, Toronto. Council meetings are open to the public, and members are welcome to attend.