June Council Update

July 07, 2025 |
CPSM Council

A Council meeting was held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Below are important highlights from the meeting. Council meetings are held four times a year and are open to registrants and the public.

 

Operating Budget & 2025-26 Renewal Fee Increase

The proposed 2025-26 operating budget was presented to the Council. The proposed 3-year budget provides:

  • A balanced budget in 2025-26;
  • a steady rebuild of CPSM’s reserves to ensure financial and organizational stability in the future, with a target of 100% (as a % of operating expenses);
  •  
  • Registrant fees in future years will increase by approximately the rate of inflation.

2025-26 certificate of practice fee increase

The budget proposed a fee increase of 2% that accounts for the inflation rate experienced in Manitoba over the last year, plus an additional increment of 7.5% to fund CPSM’s expanded regulatory activities and stabilize reserves toward a healthier target of 100% of annual operating expenses within the next 10 years (in line with other medical regulators across the country).

The proposed fee increase is essential to maintain CPSM’s financial stability and ensure it continues to protect the public and support the profession. Factors driving costs include a renewed focus on Quality improvement programs (e.g., Restorative Practices Program, Physician Prescribing Program) that provide support and education to registrants, an increase in the complexity of complaint and investigation cases, and investments in cybersecurity.

Without this increase, reserves could fall to a level that negatively impacts CPSM’s ability to manage emerging challenges in the regulatory environment.

  1.  Physician annual certificate of practice fee to be increased by the Manitoba Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 2%, plus an additional 7.5%, from $2,265 to $2,480. The monthly fee is also adjusted from $375 to $411.
  2. Educational annual certificate of practice fee increases by the CPI of 2%, plus an additional 7.5%, from $82 to $90.
  3. Clinical & Physician Assistants annual certificate of practice fees increases by the CPI of 2%, plus an additional 7.5%, from $441 to $483. The monthly fee is also adjusted by the same percentage, which raises the amount from $75 to $82.
  4. The medical corporation fee renewal increases by 2% CPI, plus an additional 7.5%, from $220 to $241

This increase follows two years of the Manitoba Government reimbursing the full cost of certificate of practice fees for physicians, as agreed upon between the province and Doctors Manitoba, who administered the reimbursement program.

 

Council Selection Process 

Earlier this year, the Executive Committee of Council identified an opportunity to enhance the current Council election process. The committee appointed a working group of Council members mandated to review the selection process for elected physician Councillors.

The group reviewed governance literature and selection processes of other Medical Regulatory Authorities. They presented a discussion paper on the Council Selection Process, including five recommendations. Council reviewed and discussed the paper and options. The discussion will continue at the September Council meeting. 

 

Collaborative Care Working Group Update

The Registrar hosted three pre-consultations to gain feedback on the draft updates to the Standard of Practice – Collaborative Care.  Pre-consultation with Doctors Manitoba, Health System Medical Leadership, and a group of family physicians and specialists practicing in the community has been valuable as the Standard is finalized for broader public consultation.

Pre-consultations will continue throughout the summer and the results will be shared with the Working Group. A final draft will be provided to Council for approval to send to public consultation at the December meeting. 

 

Restorative Practices Program Update

The Restorative Practices Program (RPP) formally launched in June, along with mandatory anti-Indigenous racism training and the Standard of Practice – Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism. View the information package here.

Successful uptake of the Standard of Practice – Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism requires support. The RPP was designed to be helpful, educational, and supportive for registrants to implement the Standard in practice.

The program is also a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Call to Action #22, as its approach is centred on Indigenous practices and teachings.

6 Facts about the Restorative Practices Program:

1. Administered by the Quality portfolio (rather than the Complaints and Investigation Committee) to support the implementation of the Standard and assist with the challenges we face with racism in medical practice.

2. Takes a non-punitive approach (where appropriate) based on Indigenous teachings and knowledge in ways of being that focus on the humanity of the individuals involved and healing harm. We want to help individuals learn and grow from that experience to be better.

3. Addresses care concerns and provides support through novel ways of resolution without discipline.

4. Supports the Standard to help navigate, problem-solve, and improve through a Quality improvement lens. For serious concerns where an educational approach is not suitable, it is our responsibility to protect the public and hold individuals accountable using other processes.

5. Encourages relationship-building with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people, communities, and organizations.

6. Supports a Restorative Justice implementation in the Complaints and Investigations processes.  

The program launched with a traditional Indigenous Pipe Ceremony on June 6. An update on program engagement will be provided at the September Council meeting.

 

New And Amended Council Policies

 As part of an ongoing review and to streamline policies and practice directions, Council approved the following amendments or new policies.

Policy

Change type

Details

Council Policy:

Governance

 

Amendment

To ensure matters before the Investigation Committee are addressed in a timely manner multiple panels will be established. This will require the appointment of a Vice-Chair position to assist the Chair in carrying out the Chair’s responsibilities for multiple panels.

Council Policy:

Provisional (Family Practice – Limited) Class

Amendment

Add language to specify post-graduate clinical training and practice experience in family medicine for physicians who do not hold one of the following: College of Family Physicians of Canada certification or confirmed to be eligible, Member Board certification in family medicine or confirmed to be eligible, or certification in family medicine from the Collège des médecins du Québec.

Council Policy:

Specialist Register

Amendment

• Fields of Practice added to title

Section 1 – Clarification that the Registrar can add fields of practice to registrants’ certificates of practice (i.e., their license).

• Section 3.2 – Registered fields of practice may include any specialty field that is recognized by the American Board of Specialties that the Royal College does not recognize.

• Section 4.1 includes new Certificates of Added Competence offered by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

• Section 4.3 recognizes any subspecialty field that is recognized by the Royal College or the American Board of Specialties as a “special designation”.

• Section 6.2.6 recognizes certification in a specialty from the American Board of Specialties for the purposes of CPSM’s Specialist Register.

Council policy:

Professional Liability Insurance

NEW

• This policy replaces existing requirements at clause 2.25 in Practice Direction - Qualifications and Registration, which is now repealed (see below).

• New insurance provider (Berkley Canada) is included (requires Council approval).

Council policy: Registration in Educational Classes for Medical Students and Residents

 

NEW

This policy replaces existing requirements at Clauses 2.18 and 2.24 in Practice Direction - Qualifications and Registration, which is now repealed (see below).

Council policy: New Council Policy – Registration in Provisional (temporary – locum) Class

NEW

This policy replaces existing requirements at Clauses 2.11, 2.12, and 2.13 in Practice Direction - Qualifications and Registration, which is now repealed (see below).

Practice Direction Qualifications and Registration

 

Repealed

This Practice Direction is repealed as all clauses in this Practice Direction have been moved to existing or new Council policies or Practice Directions.