Governance
The Medical Council of Canada’s policy direction is set by its Council, which has 52 positions, including a position for:
- Two appointees from each provincial and territorial medical regulatory authority
- One member from each university in Canada that has a medical school
- up to five members from the public
- Two student members
- Two post-graduate resident members
Council typically meets once a year at its Annual Meeting.
The Executive Board of Council is composed of the President, Vice-President, Immediate Past-President, the Chair of the Finance Committee, and three other members of Council elected at the Annual Meeting. The duties of the Executive Board include developing policy proposals for consideration by the members of Council, assisting with the implementation of policy and external liaison activities, managing the assets of the Council, and adopting and approving an annual budget that will be reported at the Annual Meeting.
Council’s direction is carried out by the administrative staff at the Medical Council of Canada as well as by the Examination Board. The executive unit of the Examination Board, the Central Examination Committee, is responsible for the overall content and quality of the examinations, and for determining the pass or fail standard to be applied to candidates who have attempted each administration of the Medical Council of Canada’s Qualifying Examination Part I and Part II and who are to be awarded standing.
Because the Examination Board operates at arm’s length from Council, no individual can sit on both bodies.
How are Council members appointed?
Council members are appointed by a provincial or territorial medical regulatory authority or a faculty of medicine at a Canadian university. Student members are appointed by the Canadian Federation of Medical Students and the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec whereas post-graduate resident members are appointed by the Canadian Association of Internes and Residents and the Fédération des médecins résidents du Québec.
