Minutes of Council Meetings
Minutes of the Council Meeting of the Ontario College of Teachers Held via Videoconference on March 24, 2022
Present: Diana Miles (Chair); Chantal Bélisle, OCT (Acting Registrar); Abena Buahene; Jonathan Davey; Douglas Gosse, OCT; Elaine Lajeunesse; Martine Lewis, OCT; Jonathan Rose; Imran Syed, OCT; Maria Vasanelli, OCT; Tammy Webster, OCT; Valerie Williamson, OCT
Regrets: Peter Dinsdale
Staff: Rachel Balinsky (Recorder); Kim Bauer (Recorder); Jason Bennett; Linda Lacroix, OCT; Demetra Saldaris, OCT; Linda Zaks-Walker, OCT
1. Call to Order/Welcome
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and welcomed all those present.
2. Agenda
It was moved by Valerie Williamson, seconded by Jonathan Davey, and
CARRIED,
That the Agenda for the March 24, 2022 Council Meeting be approved.
Preparation time of one half-day was confirmed.
3. Conflict of Interest
No conflicts were declared.
4. Minutes
4.1 Authority to Approve Past Meeting Minutes
Council members received information on the authority to approve minutes of past meetings at which they were not in attendance. Jason Bennett, Director of Corporate and Council Services (interim) responded to questions.
4.2 Meeting, December 8, 2021
It was moved by Martine Lewis, seconded by Abena Buahene, and
CARRIED,
That the Minutes of the December 8, 2021 meeting with the Transition Supervisory Officer be approved.
4.3 Special Meeting, March 2, 2022
It was moved by Jonathan Davey, seconded by Douglas Gosse, and
CARRIED,
That the Minutes of the March 2, 2022 Special Meeting of Council be approved.
5. Council Training and Development
5.1 Training and Development Plan
The Director of Corporate and Council Services reviewed a proposed training and development plan for Council and noted that additional topics would be added to the plan upon Council’s request.
It was moved by Elaine Lajeunesse, seconded by Jonathan Davey, and
CARRIED,
That the 2022 and 2023 Training and Development Plan for Council be approved.
5.2 Overview of Certification
Linda Zaks-Walker, Director of Membership Services, introduced Iona Mitchell, Manager of Membership Records, and Marianne Tompkins-Carter, Manager of Evaluation Services. Ms. Mitchell and Ms. Tompkins-Carter presented an overview of the College’s certification process and responded to questions.
6. Chair and Registrar Reports
6.1 Chair’s Report
The Chair of Council presented her report and noted that in the absence of the current Registrar, Chantal Bélisle was serving in the role of Acting Registrar.
6.2 Registrar’s Report
The Acting Registrar presented her report, following which she and the Director of Corporate and Council Services responded to questions.
6.3 Financial Report
The financial report to December 31, 2021 was received
7. Subcommittee Reports
7.1 Audit and Finance Subcommittee
Jonathan Davey, Chair of the Audit and Finance Subcommittee, presented the subcommittee’s report to Council for the first quarter of 2022. He noted that information had been provided to the subcommittee regarding the use of existing funding sources to support additional staffing requirements in the Membership Services Department that would not require a draw from reserves.
It was moved by Jonathan Davey, seconded by Valerie Williamson, and
CARRIED,
That Council approve a reserve draw of up to $1.5 million to balance the 2021 year-end deficit.
7.2 Selection and Nominating
Elaine Lajeunesse, Chair of the Selection and Nominating Subcommittee, reviewed the report of the subcommittee that included a recommendation to appoint two current roster members to the Investigation Committee. She noted that the recommendation was being made to increase the French-language capacity of single-member complaint resolution panels.
It was moved by Elaine Lajeunesse, seconded by Jonathan Rose, and
CARRIED,
That Council approve the appointment of Robert Pellerin, OCT and Annie Song to the Investigation Committee, effective immediately.
8. Committee Reports
8.1 Schedule of Committee Reports
The Acting Registrar and the Director of Corporate and Council Services presented a proposed schedule for Council to receive committee and subcommittee reports, and responded to questions. It was noted that the schedule would be amended should the need arise and that for 2022 only, the report of the Investigation Committee was moved to the June meeting of Council.
It was moved by Elaine Lajeunesse, seconded by Jonathan Rose, and
CARRIED,
That the Schedule of Committee Reports as outlined in Document GC20220324-15 be approved.
9. New Business
9.1 Council, Committee and Roster Member Orientation – Survey Results
Council received feedback survey results for the three Council, committee and roster member orientation sessions that were held in January 2022.
9.2 Public Presentations at Council Meetings – Policy Review
The Director of Corporate and Council Services reviewed proposed amendments to the public presentations at Council meetings policy and responded to questions. It was agreed that future policy amendments would include a summary of the changes and the rationale for the change.
It was moved by Abena Buahene, seconded by Imran Syed, and
CARRIED,
That the Public Presentations at Council Meetings Policy as outlined in Document GC20220324-17 be approved.
There was one abstention.
9.3 Professional Advisory Development Process
The Acting Registrar presented an overview of the timeline and processes for the development of College professional advisories.
9.4 Proposed Council Annual Work Plan
The Acting Registrar and the Director of Corporate and Council Services presented a proposed Council annual work plan for 2022 and 2023, noting that the plan was fluid and would be amended as required.
It was moved by Maria Vasanelli, seconded by Valerie Williamson, and
CARRIED,
That the Council Annual Work Plan for 2022 and 2023 as outlined in Document GC20220324-19 be approved.
10. Correspondence
Correspondence to and from the Ministry of Education, and to the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development was provided for information.
11. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
