Seeing the relevance in self-regulation

One of the College’s biggest challenges is making self-regulation relevant to our members as professionals, says the College’s new Registrar.

by Michael Salvatori

Usually, when I introduce myself to a new group, I write my name on the board and create a mind map to highlight my experiences, my background, my beliefs. Invariably, this leads to questions and connections. We find natural points of intersection. Great discussions ensue. So do relationships. 

But without benefit of a blackboard, I already know that you and I have this in common – we are profoundly committed to students and to the importance of education in developing our world. I also know that effective teaching is the single most important factor in good education.

As your Registrar, I have responsibilities and powers that are set down in legislation. I represent the collective that is Ontario’s teaching profession and I am accountable to the public for professionalism in teaching.

College Council has a challenging agenda for the coming months – implementing and communicating recent changes to Additional Qualifications, introducing a new professional designation for Ontario teachers, and implementing interprovincial labour mobility laws.

“I want to do all I can to learn about how you think the College can serve and support you in your daily work and throughout your professional career.”

I am anticipating a very interesting year ahead, and I will work hard to inform and engage you in these critical issues. What’s more, I want to do all I can to learn about what matters to members and to ask how you think the College can serve and support you in your daily work and throughout your professional career.

I want to thank Lise Roy-Kolbusz for the leadership she provided on the implementation of the Agreement on Internal Trade, during her term as Interim Registrar this April and May, while I finished my work at York University.

On this page, you can read Lise’s report on how we are working to reduce administrative barriers for you and all Canadian teachers while maintaining high standards and protecting the public interest.

College prepares for greater labour mobility

The implementation of new rules governing the interprovincial movement of teachers should be seamless for College members.

by Lise Roy-Kolbusz, Interim Registrar

When the revised Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) comes into effect on August 1, the College will recognize teacher certification by another Canadian jurisdiction as meeting the basic requirements for membership in the College.  

The deal, signed by Canada’s premiers, promises that professional qualifications will be recognized on a certificate-for-certificate basis.

The agreement means that teachers will have more flexibility in where they live and practise their profession in Canada – a goal that teacher licensing bodies have been working towards for some time.

This is a step forward in improving labour mobility for Canadian teachers, but it is just a continuation of a long-standing trend. Each year about 500 applicants from other Canadian jurisdictions apply to the College for certification.

Negotiating the implementation of the AIT has been a major focus of my time as Interim Registrar. The registrars from all provinces and territories have met regularily. We have balanced the requirement to streamline certification procedures while ensuring protection of the public interest – for example, by retaining the authority to require evidence of language proficiency, evidence of good character and the reporting of any disciplinary action.

The provincial government introduced legislation on May 5th that will enable all Ontario professions to certify Canadian applicants from other provinces on a certificate-for-certificate basis as of August 1st. We will have to make some changes this fall to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation to reflect the new legislative framework.

“If you decide to teach elsewhere in Canada, the removal of administrative barriers should create a more seamless move for you.”

The College will conduct administrative reviews of applicants’ credentials to determine what teaching qualifications will appear on their Ontario teaching certificates. This continues our commitment to ensuring that potential employers – as well as parents and colleagues – are able to see on teachers’ certificates what they are certified to teach and whether there has ever been any disciplinary action taken against them.

Highly qualified Ontario teachers – both experienced and newly graduated from our accredited teacher education programs – are routinely recruited and hired by school authorities in other parts of Canada. If you decide to teach elsewhere in Canada, the removal of administrative barriers should create a more seamless move for you.

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