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Governing Ourselves informs members of legal and regulatory matters affecting the profession. This section provides updates on licensing and qualification requirements, notification of Council resolutions and reports from various Council committees, including reports on accreditation and discipline matters.
College Council is inviting members of the public — students, parents, teachers and stakeholders — to speak at its meetings.
An individual or group may address Council, which is the 37-member governing body of the College that regulates the teaching profession in Ontario. Topics are required to be relevant to the 11 objects, or purposes, of the College and are required to be in the public interest.
Presentations — or deputations — to Council will be accepted in English and French.
The pilot project commenced at the June Council meeting and continues with the four regularly scheduled meetings and the Annual Meeting of Members held at the College, at 101 Bloor Street West, Toronto, until March 2015.
Speakers will address Council in open meetings and be recorded according to standard meeting procedures. A 40-minute period will be scheduled at the start of Council meetings and presenters will have up to 10 minutes to present, with an additional 10 minutes allowed for clarification questions. Debate will not occur during this question-and-answer session, and no more than two presentations will be heard per meeting.
The Chair, in consultation with the Registrar, may refuse any request based on lack of relevancy, conflict of interest, if the matter is before a panel or hearing, or due to abuse of process or other reasons.
Information regarding the application process, the format and a request-to-speak form is available on the College website at oct.ca. Requests to speak to Council, along with any accompanying information, are required to be received at least 15 days ahead of the Council meeting.
If you are not from the Toronto area, you can teleconference with the College. Otherwise, no audiovisual equipment or technical assistance is available to presenters. The College will not cover any expenses incurred by presenters.
Council approved this pilot initiative during its March 27–28 meeting. The initiative supports our communication strategy to increase the transparency of the College. It adds access to Council members and may assist in Council decision-making.
The College’s Executive Committee will review the initiative after each Council meeting. The committee will make a final recommendation on the initiative to Council at the June 2015 Council meeting.