Frequently asked questions (FAQ)—2026 CMPA Council elections

In 2026, Council positions are scheduled for election in the following Areas:

• British Columbia and Yukon (Area 1)
• Alberta (Area 2)
• Ontario (Area 5)
• Québec (Area 6)
• Nova Scotia (Area 8)
• Newfoundland and Labrador (Area 10)

Active CMPA members in British Columbia and Yukon, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador are eligible to vote for candidates in their Areas. All CMPA members in geographical areas where elections occur are sent instructions on how to vote (typically by email). Elector lists are based on the primary mailing address on file for each member.

Active CMPA members can vote for Division* A and Division B positions scheduled for election in their Area regardless of whether they themselves practise in Division A or B.

Council representation – Divisions A and B
To ensure appropriate representation across all specialties in medicine, surgery, and general practice, the Association’s By-law requires that members seeking election must practise in one of the following two Divisions:

1. *Division A—Certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) (Specialists in Family Medicine), or physicians without CFPC or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) certification. One (1) Council position within Division A is filled by a member engaged in a residency program in Canada.
2. *Division B—Specialist certification from RCPSC or CMQ, not including Specialists in Family Medicine.

Voting opens on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, and closes on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. All voting is online.

Members in geographic areas where elections occur (i.e., British Columbia and Yukon, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador) will receive election information by email beginning on March 18, 2026. Elector lists are based on the primary mailing address on file for each member. CMPA members who do not have a valid email address on file will receive election information by mail.

CMPA members can access the election ballot by visiting the CMPA Council election webpage and clicking "Vote now!" Members need their primary email address or member number and password to sign in. The CMPA uses a secure, web-based election ballot with an independent election agency to ensure the integrity of the voting process. Election information is emailed to CMPA members in areas where elections are being held. Elector lists are based on the primary mailing address on file for each member. Members who do not have an email address on file will receive the election information by mail.

Election information will be sent by email to CMPA members in Areas where elections are being held (i.e., British Columbia and Yukon, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador), beginning on March 18, 2026. Election reminder emails will be sent to members who have not yet voted throughout the election period. All CMPA members can read about the election and review the candidate profiles on the CMPA website (beginning March 18, 2026).

To vote, CMPA members need their primary email address or member number and password to sign in. Members can obtain their member number from the notification sent to each eligible voting member, or by calling 1-800-267-6522. Emails are sent to the email address on file with the CMPA.

Elector lists are based on the primary mailing address on file for each member.

CMPA members can read about the election and review the candidate profiles on the CMPA website (beginning March 18, 2026).

The voting website will also provide election candidate information, which members can review before voting.

We seek, value, and support diversity and lived experiences on Council. These principles are embedded in our nomination process through the Nominating Committee, in which candidates are asked to identify how they will contribute to enhancing diversity on Council. All Councillors undergo a robust learning and evaluation process which includes a focus on supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion. We have been more successful in recent years in expanding the diversity of candidates, and we continue to raise awareness of elections and encourage members to consider diverse perspectives when voting.

Yes. Any mobile device can be used to vote. Members may also vote using a laptop or desktop computer.

Yes. The link directs users to the CMPA Council elections webpage on which there is a “Vote now!” button. Clicking that button will redirect users to the voting platform via the CMPA member portal. Members must sign in using their primary email address or member number and password to access the election ballot. The CMPA uses a secure, web-based election format of an independent election agency to ensure the integrity of the voting process.

Questions related to the election may be directed by email to [email protected] or by calling 1-800-267-6522.

CMPA members can change their contact information through the member portal on the CMPA website or by calling 1-800-267-6522.

You can allow email from specific email addresses to safely enter your inbox without being flagged as junk or spam by adding them to your approved senders list, also known as whitelisting. Whitelisting is done within your email client or Internet security software, and the instructions vary. You may refer to this article on how to whitelist email addresses for additional information.

From our experience, we have found that the following troubleshooting tips have resolved the majority of issues.

1. If you have access to another Internet browser, try to access the link from another browser. For example, if you are not successful with Chrome, and you also have Firefox, try loading the page in Firefox. Sometimes there are script or ad-blocking extensions that prevent the content from loading. Using another browser is often a viable workaround.
2. You may need to clear your cache and/or cookies if you are presented with “loading please wait” for an extended period of time.
3. Access to the CMPA member portal may be blocked by your firewall security protocols. If you have access to another network, try to access the page from that network - for example, by signing in from your home computer.
4. If you are using Firefox, Safari or Chrome, please ensure you are using the most up-to-date version of these browsers. Our website is especially compatible with Microsoft Edge.

If you continue to experience difficulties after using the suggestions above, please contact us at 1-800-267-6522.

If you need a new password, do one of the following:

• Reset your password online
• Call our automated telephone attendant at 1-800-267-6522 and follow the prompts.

Please note that the password must be at least 8 characters long, including 2 numerical characters, and is case sensitive.

Yes! Active CMPA members in election Areas can access the election ballot directly by visiting the CMPA Council election webpage and clicking "Vote now!" – no need to wait for the election notification email.

If you cannot find your notification email, it may be that your computer or organization’s email security settings are directing your election notification emails to your junk or spam folder. Check this folder to see if the notification is there or request assistance from your organization’s IT (Information Technology) support team.

If you would like to provide an alternative email address, please email [email protected] or call 1-800-267-6522 for assistance.