Committee Reports

Statutory Committees

The Complaints Committee investigates and considers complaints and mandatory employer reports regarding members of the College. Where appropriate, the Committee may caution a member about their conduct. The Committee may also refer allegations of professional misconduct and/or incompetence to the Discipline Committee, or refer matters of incapacity to the Fitness to Practise Committee.

The Committee’s focus has been on addressing the significant increase in mandatory employer reports resulting from the Childcare Modernization Act, as well as procedural changes resulting from the Protecting Students Act.

Key Focus: Increase capacity of committee to address legislative changes to employer reporting requirements.

The Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committees consider matters referred by the Complaints Committee. The Committees sit in panels and have the authority to make findings following a hearing. The Discipline Committee has the authority to order sanctions for professional misconduct or incompetence, up to and including revocation of a member’s Certificate of Registration. The Fitness to Practice Committee may impose restrictions on a member’s ability to practice where necessary to protect the public interest.

The Discipline Committee concluded a significant multi-day hearing, as well as a number of other matters.

Key Focus: Increase capacity of committees to address anticipated increase in matters referred.

The Executive Committee oversees the implementation of College policy and the administration of College affairs. It has all the powers of Council in between Council meetings, except the authority to make, amend or revoke regulations and by-laws.

An item of particular importance for the Committee was preparing for the transition of leadership on the Council. This included reviewing the role of the Executive Committee, development of a role description for the President, and consideration of the role of the Past President. The Committee also provided input into significant policy initiatives and made recommendations to Council.

The Committee exercised its statutory function of approving the appointment of investigators in relation to complaints and mandatory employer reports in 60 cases.

The Registration Appeals Committee is responsible for reviewing registration applications at the request of applicants once the Registrar has proposed to refuse to issue a Certificate of Registration or to impose terms, conditions or limitations on a Certificate of Registration.

Key Focus: Ensuring that registration decisions are fair and transparent.

Non-Statutory Committees

The Election Committee oversees the election of Council members.

Increasing member participation in the Council election process continues to be an important focus for the Committee. To encourage members to stand for election, the Committee oversaw the production of a “how to” video focused on the nomination process. The Committee also oversaw an analysis of voter behaviours with the goal of optimizing voter participation.

Key Focus: Oversaw elections in electoral districts 1, 2, and 6.

The Nominating Committee makes recommendations to Council regarding the appointment of committee chairs and members of all committees except for the Executive Committee, which is elected by Council. The Nominating Committee also makes recommendations on the appointment of all non-Council committee members.

Using principles designed to ensure diverse representation, continuity and succession planning, the Committee recommended to Council the appointment of committee chairs, Council committee members and non-Council committee members.

Key Focus: Development of a Council members skills matrix to inform the committee appointment process and identify training needs for Council and committees. 

The Registration Committee advises Council on strategic policy directions for registration requirements.

To address changes that have occurred in the early years sector since 2008, the Committee developed and adopted a multi-year (2016-2019) work plan to prioritize its initiatives for the next three years.

During the first year of the work plan, the Committee initiated the two key projects below.

1. Practice Readiness Initiative: Explored what it means to be ready to practise safely, competently and professionally as an early childhood educator. During the exploration, the Committee considered what the changes in the early years sector might mean for the College’s registration requirements and membership structure.

2. Assessing Issues that May Affect the Practice of Early Childhood Education: Development of this policy formalized the College’s current application processing approach that assesses applicant’s past or present conduct against potential concerns related to their ability to practise the profession.

Key Focus: Actively engaging in policy work identified in the multi-year plan.

The Standards of Practice Committee advises Council on policy directions regarding By-law 39: Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and Regulation 359/15: Continuous Professional Learning under the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007.

To reflect changes in the profession since 2011, an important focus for the Committee this year was the development of the second edition of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The Committee recommended the revised Code and Standards to Council, which it approved and deemed effective July 1, 2017.

Another significant project for the Committee was the implementation of the first year of the mandatory Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) program as required by the CPL Regulation. The Committee reviewed and discussed reports regarding the monitoring of the Expectations for Practice Module (Step 1), and contributed to revisions of the three key CPL portfolio components:

1. Self-assessment tool

2. Professional learning plan

3. Record of professional learning.

Key Focus: Review of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and implementation of the mandatory CPL program.

The role of the Finance and Audit Committee is to assist Council in fulfilling its duty to oversee the College’s financial position, practices, financial controls and reporting, as well as risk management. 

The Committee’s activities during the year included reviewing and recommending to Council the annual budget, revisions to financial policies, the appointment of the College’s auditors and the approval of the audited financial statements.