Call for Nominations Election of Council members in Districts 1, and 3

Posted On: January 20, 2025

(January 20, 2025) The College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CoNO) is issuing the formal Call for Nominations for registrants who wish to stand for election to the position of Council member. Nominations are being sought for Council members in Districts 1, and 3, to be elected for a three-year term.

Nomination Process

Individuals who are interested in seeking nomination must complete the following no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on February 21, 2025:

  1. Individuals must attend a special Orientation Session for Volunteers, focused on the Council, that will be held in February 2025 (please check the College’s website for date, time and how to register). This Orientation session is part of a Qualifying Program mandated by the College Council to ensure that individuals elected to the Council are aware of and ready to perform this key role.
  2. Individuals in these two districts are invited to express their interest in being nominated to the College. In doing so, you must identify two registrants in your district willing to support your nomination (Nominators). Information about yourself and your two nominators must be provided to us using the on-line Nomination and Consent Form. The information required includes name, registration number and email address.
  3. The following six additional on-line forms must also be completed:

Who can run?

Any registrant in good standing who holds a certificate of registration in the General class, or the Inactive class can run for election, with certain restrictions. Some restrictions relate to conduct (e.g., disciplinary or incapacity proceedings, professional misconduct, findings of incompetence or incapacity, etc.) and some others to conflict of interest or holding other roles.

More information will be provided during the Orientation session and can be found in the 2025 Election Handbook describing the eligibility requirements and a more in-depth description of the process. It can be downloaded from the Resources section of our website.

Who should run?

The Naturopathic Doctors on the College Council are expected to rise above the interests of the profession and make sound, reasoned judgments that serve the public interest and enhance patient safety.

Elected Council members are voted in by their peers. However, unlike a representative in parliament, they are not beholden to the constituents who elect them but rather to the public of Ontario.

Therefore, the people who run should be best suited to serve the public interest.

The Council of the College is asking registrants who self-identify as being part of communities that have been harmed by racism and discrimination to consider this opportunity to join the Council. The governing Council of the College is committed to ensuring that the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging are embodied by the organization and reflected in its programs, policies, and processes. This includes the Council itself.

What is the election schedule?

The timelines for the election are set out in the by-laws of the College and summarized in the Election Handbook as follows:

  • Call for nominations – January 20, 2025.
  • Orientation session – February 13 2025. Register
  • Nominations close – February 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Note: This is the date by which all election information noted above must be received.
  • Confirmation of candidacy for election – On or about March 12, 2025.
  • Voting by registrants in the two districts open – March 20, 2025, 12:01 a.m.
  • Voting closes – April 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
  • Candidates advised of voting outcomes – April 9, 2025.
  • Deadline for request for a recount – April 17, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
  • Recount completion deadline – April 21, 2025.
  • Election outcomes announced – April 24, 2025.

If elected, when would my first meetings be held?

A full-day, in-person training session for the Council will be held on May 27, 2025. The first business meeting of the new Council is May 28, 2025. Subsequent meetings are held on the mornings of the last Wednesday of July, September, November, January, and March. Council meetings are held bi-monthly.

How much of my time will this involve?

Council members must attend six meetings each year. Doing so typically requires one half-day to review the materials and one half-day at the meeting itself. Thus, Council is a minimum of a 6-day commitment each year.

Council members also sit on at least one committee, and at least one full day and a maximum of two full days each month can be anticipated. Preparation time can be completed on weekends; however, all committees meet on weekdays.

Finally, you may be asked to sit on a panel of the Discipline Committee. Hearings run for at least one day but could be eight to ten days. Hearings are scheduled on an as-needed basis and based on availability of Discipline Committee members. Individuals seeking nomination to be a candidate for election are assumed to be aware of and have accepted these requirements.

Have more questions?

The Orientation session to be scheduled for February 2025 is the ideal place to learn more about the Council and the obligations of Council members. Please plan to attend if you are interested in seeking election.

We also invite you to download the 2025 Elections Handbook for more information. However, if you have further questions about the election process or any related matters, please do not hesitate to contact Andrew Parr, CEO, by telephone at 416-583-6013 or by email at ceo@collegeofnaturopaths.on.ca.

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