Our Committees
Council appoints committees to:
- support the work of Council
- fulfill regulatory responsibilities
- assist with carrying out the work of our College
We have Council Committees and Statutory Committees.
Council Committees
The Council Committees are made up of Council members and other members as needed. These committees bring experience and expertise to Council’s decisions. They provide advice and recommendations to the Council.
This committee reports and makes recommendations to Council but does not have authority to make decisions.
The committee indirectly supports our regulatory work by assisting with the merit-based appointment process we use to recruit and select regulated council members.
Committee Activities
- review and evaluate candidate applications using the established rubric
- create a short list of candidates
- interview short-listed candidates
- present list of recommended candidates to Council for consideration
This committee reports and makes recommendations to Council but does not have authority to make decisions.
The committee indirectly supports our regulatory work by overseeing finance, human resources and risk management.
Committee Activities
- review and make recommendations regarding our risk management program
- review and recommend an annual operating budget prepared by management; the budget includes staff compensation, professional development and achieving our strategic plan goals
- oversee the integrity of our operational systems including financial, human resources and risk management
- review and recommend policies for human resource management, financial administration, information technology, security, capital acquisition and asset management
- monitor trends in revenue and expenses
- monitor compliance with legislation including employment standards, occupational health and safety, privacy and human rights
- review our audited statements with financial auditors
- recommend appointment of auditor
- provide observations to the Governance Committee regarding Council structure and functioning
This committee reports and makes recommendations to Council but does not have authority to make decisions.
The committee indirectly supports our regulatory work by overseeing our governing documents (bylaws, policies, etc.) and practices, and committee recruitment and selection.
Committee Activities
- review our Bylaws to ensure they comply with legislation and leading practices in bylaws and governance
- review our Governance Policies for effective and efficient governance
- review our governance practices for effectiveness, transparency and focus on Mission, Vision and Values
- develop and implement process for:
- Council performance review
- Registrar & CEO performance and compensation review
- committee recruitment and selection
This committee reports and makes recommendations to Council but does not have authority to make decisions.
The committee supports our organization’s responsibility for program approval by reviewing, recommending approval and monitoring dental assisting programs and courses.
Committee Activities
- review and make recommendations regarding our dental assisting education principles, and program approval policies and procedures
- review dental assisting education program and course approval applications, and program and course change applications
- recommend granting an approval status to a dental assisting education program, re-entry program or advanced practice course
- monitor dental assisting education programs, re-entry programs and advanced practice courses for compliance with the dental assisting education principles and program approval policies
- recommend removal of an approval status from a dental assisting education program, re-entry programs and advanced practice courses
Statutory Committees
The Statutory Committees are required under the Health Professions Act to make decisions and provide advice and recommendations to the College within their areas of expertise. Council members do not sit on these committees.
Our Competence Committee directly supports our Continuing Competence Program.
This committee has authority to make decisions about Continuing Competence Program audit submissions. In addition, the committee reports and makes recommendations to Council on other competence program matters.
Committee Activities
- review competence audit submissions
- review and make recommendations regarding our Continuing Competence Program policies and procedures
Our Registration Committee directly supports our registration activities.
This committee has authority to make decisions about registration applications and referral to the Expert Review Panel. The committee also reports and makes recommendations to Council on other registration matters.
Committee Activities
- review and make recommendations regarding our Registration Policies and procedures
- review registration applications
- participate in registration assessment training
Council Appeal Panel, Hearing Tribunals and Complaint Review Committee
We maintain a roster of Council members to serve on Council Appeal Panels, and a separate roster of dental assistants to support Hearing Tribunals and Complaint Review Committees, as required under the Health Professions Act.
Hearing Tribunals (HT) and Complaint Review Committees (CRC) directly support our professional conduct responsibilities described in the Health Professions Act (HPA).
HTs and CRCs have the authority to make decisions as described in the HPA. This may involve:
- whether to ratify a proposed Alternative Complaint Resolution settlement
- deciding complaint review outcomes
- deciding hearing outcomes
Complaint Review Committee Activities
When a complaint is being settled through an Alternative Complaint Resolution process:
- review the records of the proposed settlement
- question the involved parties if further information is needed
- decide whether to ratify the proposed settlement
- with the consent of the involved parties, decide to amend then ratify a proposed settlement
When a complaint is dismissed by the Complaints Director and the complainant requests a review of the decision:
- review the decision and supporting information
- review submissions about the complaint and dismissal from the parties
- decide to refer the matter to a hearing, decide that further investigation is required, or decide to confirm the decision to dismiss
Hearing Tribunal Activities
- conduct a hearing regarding the allegations in a complaint when the complaint is referred to a hearing
- hear and consider all evidence presented during the hearing
- decide whether the alleged conduct is unprofessional conduct, as defined in the HPA
- if the alleged conduct is unprofessional conduct, decide whether the conduct is proven
- if unprofessional conduct is proven, decide to make orders (penalties), as allowed in the HPA
The Health Professions Act (HPA) allows for registration decisions, competence decisions and hearing tribunal decisions to be reviewed by or appealed to our Council. Instead of having all Council members participate, Council has designated this authority to the Appeals Committee of Council.
We maintain a roster of public and regulated Council members who may be appointed as needed. If we receive a review or appeal request, Council will appoint people from the roster to hear it.
The Appeals Committee of Council directly supports our review and appeal responsibilities described in the HPA. The Appeals Committee has the authority to make decisions as described in the HPA.
For competence and registration decisions, this may involve:
- upholding, reversing or varying the decision
- referring the matter for further assessment
- making orders necessary to carry out their decision
For hearing tribunal decisions, this may involve:
- staying a decision
- making findings
- quashing, confirming or varying any hearing tribunal finding
- referring the matter back to the hearing tribunal for further consideration
- referring the matter to the Hearings Director for rehearing by a different hearing tribunal
Join a Committee
Interested in getting more involved with the College? We invite you to explore the current opportunities to join one of our committees.
Frequently asked questions
Generally, Council may appoint regulated members, other members (non-regulated) and non-members (public) to committees. These considerations also apply:
- regulated members and other members must be in Good Standing
- only regulated members are eligible to be appointed to our Hearing Tribunal and Complaint Review Committee Roster (HPA s.15[2])
- anyone who is an officer, director, executive member or similar position in a professional association, union or bargaining unit that represents dental assistants is not eligible to be appointed to our Statutory/Regulatory Committees (HPA s.5.1[1])
- current members of Council are not eligible to be appointed to Statutory/Regulatory Committees (except for the Appeals Committee of Council) because the decisions of these committees may be appealed to Council
- when the role of chair doesn’t have to be filled by someone in a certain position, Council will appoint a Chair for each Committee from the members of each Committee
All our committees require their members to have high ethical standards, analytical and critical thinking skills, and the ability to make impartial, evidence-based decisions. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are necessary to engage in respectful, productive, and sometimes challenging discussions. Regulatory/compliance experience and governance knowledge are assets.
Individual committees will need additional, more specific experiences. For example, our Hearing Tribunal/Complaint Review Committee roster members need experience in legal or disciplinary proceedings, our Finance Committee members need financial expertise, budgeting experience, and the ability to interpret financial statements, and our Program Approval Committee members need experience in education, curriculum development, and policy research.
We don’t expect every applicant to have all the experience listed. We will also consider applicants who have transferable knowledge/skills or desire to learn.
We typically accept applications in the fall. This allows Council time to review and make appointments in time for the December 1st term start. However, we may accept applications at any time if a committee needs members.
When a position on a committee becomes available, we’ll post instructions and an application form on our News page.
Committees meet two to four times per year, depending on College priorities and the committee’s annual work plan. Most of our committees conduct their work virtually, mainly during evenings and weekends. Committee members require access to reliable internet and appropriate technology to participate in committee business. Occasionally committees meet in person.
Committee members may claim expenses, including travel, and accommodation. Committee members are not employees of our College – this is a volunteer role. However, they may claim honoraria for attending meetings and other required functions. Our expense policy lists all eligible expenses. It is in our Governance Policies at GP7.1.1.
