Diversity on Council is an asset to the CMPA. Differing viewpoints and a variety of lived experiences are essential to helping us understand and support our members. We invite and encourage submissions from members from all backgrounds who feel they can make a unique and valuable contribution.
Nominee experience and attributes
Useful experience and attributes for nominees include a strong clinical background, leadership capabilities, outreach work, medical education or research experience, governance, business or legal experience, and financial or investment literacy.
The CMPA supports all new Council members with orientation, ongoing education, and training related to many of these areas.
Nominees must be CMPA members. Current members of Council may seek nomination and re-election for an additional three-year term.
Nomination criteria
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CMPA Council plays an important role in the overall success of the Association. As a member of Council, you govern the Association and provide direction, guidance, and support to the CMPA management team, which is responsible for the Association’s day-to-day business. The Terms of Reference for council and councillors [PDF] sets out the way in which Council fulfills its responsibilities and describes the responsibilities of Councillors.
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Council is composed of member physicians from 10 geographical areas across Canada (British Columbia and Yukon; Alberta; Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Nunavut; Manitoba; Ontario; Québec; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island; and Newfoundland and Labrador).
To ensure appropriate representation across all specialties in medicine, surgery, and general practice, members seeking election must practice in one of the following Divisions:
- Division A (member): Certification from CFPC or CMQ (Specialists in Family Medicine), or physicians without CFPC, CMQ or RCPSC certification. One (1) Council position within Division A is filled by a member engaged in a residency program in Canada.
- Division B (member): Specialist certification from RCPSC or CMQ, not including specialists in Family Medicine
The number of Division A or B positions in each area is determined by geographical location. In some instances, a Council position within an area may be Division A or B.
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Council members should plan to commit to at least 17 days per year (i.e., one annual meeting, eight Council days, and approximately eight committee days), as well as meeting preparation and travel time.
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Council members will receive honoraria for Association business or travel. The CMPA also reimburses Councillors for all reasonable out-of-pocket travel, accommodation, meal expense, and childcare costs incurred on CMPA business.
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There are two ways to seek nomination. Both require completion of the online candidate submission form.
- Seek nomination by the Nominating Committee. Members can submit their names for consideration by the Nominating Committee.
- The Committee reviews candidate submissions in November and December. These may include submissions from current Councillors seeking re-election.
- The Committee will release the names of proposed candidates through the Report of the Nominating Committee.
- Seek nomination through the CMPA Membership. Members can be nominated through the membership. In addition to the online candidate submission form, a member nomination form [PDF] is required. The form must be accompanied by the names and signatures of 10 supporting, current CMPA members who reside in the same geographical area as the member they are nominating.
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The Council election and nomination process is governed by Article 4 of the CMPA By-law. Election(s) occur when we receive an eligible nomination from the membership in an area where the Nominating Committee has proposed a nominee. Unopposed candidates are acclaimed.
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Candidates play an important role in communicating and encouraging CMPA members to vote in Council elections. See Campaign guidelines.
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The CMPA uses 2 vote count methods for Council elections (updated September 2020):
First-past-the-post
When an election involves two candidates, the candidate with the most votes is declared the successful candidate. This is commonly referred to as the first-past-the-post voting methodology.
Ranked choice
When there are multiple openings in the same election area involving multiple candidates, or more than 2 candidates for a single position, ranked choice voting methodology is used. The ranked choice method is generally seen as being useful in selecting the candidate(s) preferred by the greatest number of voters.
When ranked choice voting is required, the CMPA uses single transferrable vote (STV) with redistribution of votes with no discount, using an enforced 50% + 1 quota.
Enforced 50% + 1 quota
With this quota option, the threshold for determining winners is always 50% + 1, regardless of the number of winners. If there is a fraction, it is rounded down before adding the +1. The quota remains fixed and will never change from round to round. Note that unless redistribution of votes is activated, it is mathematically impossible for more than one candidate to reach the threshold.
STV with redistribution of votes, redistribution with no discount
With this method, all votes for an elected option are redistributed at full value.
Tabulation
STV with redistribution is counted as follows:
- On the first round of counting, each option1 shall receive a first preference vote for each vote indicating it as first preference.
- Should an option meet the quota of first preference votes after any round, it shall be declared elected. If there are several options meeting the quota, the one with the most votes shall be elected. If there is a tie, one of those options shall be elected by random draw. Multiple options are never elected simultaneously.
- When an option is elected, the votes for that option are discounted (if applicable) and redistributed: All first preference votes for that option shall be replaced by the vote's first preferred option that is not yet elected or eliminated. All second preference votes for that option shall be replaced by the vote's next preferred option that is not yet elected or eliminated, and so on.
- If no option is elected or further winners are required, then the option with the fewest number of first preference votes shall be eliminated from the question. Should there be a tie for the fewest number of first preference votes, then among these, the option with the fewest number of second preference votes shall be eliminated. Should a tie persist, the procedure shall continue with third preference votes, et cetera. Should a tie still persist, the option with the fewest number of original first preference votes shall be eliminated. Should a tie still persist, the procedures shall continue with original second preference votes, et cetera. Should a tie still persist, an option shall be eliminated by random draw. Multiple options are never eliminated simultaneously.
- When an option is eliminated, all first preference votes for that option shall be replaced by the vote's first preferred option that is not yet elected or eliminated. All second preference votes for that option shall be replaced by the vote's next preferred option that is not yet elected or eliminated, and so on.
- This procedure of electing and eliminating option(s) and redistributing first preference votes shall continue until all winners are elected or the number of options left equals the number of winners (this may occur due to exhausted ballots, and those options shall be declared elected).
1Option = candidate
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