Keeping up with Council: March 2025

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CPSA Council, composed of regulated members, medical learners and Albertans, sets our overall direction and policies. Council generally meets four times each year to discuss key issues and make important decisions that affect medical practice in Alberta.

Council held its first meeting of 2025 in March. Here are a few highlights:

• The first Council meeting of the year started off in a good way, with a ceremony to mark Dr. Nicole Cardinal beginning her term as CPSA Council Chair. To the best of our knowledge, Dr. Cardinal is the first First Nation physician to become Council Chair, the most senior role in our organization. The ceremony took place at Fort Edmonton Park within the Indigenous Peoples Experience, and it was an honour to be joined by Elder Rick Lightning from Ermineskin Cree Nation, and Elder Louis Lapatack and Elder Martha Cardinal from Saddle Lake First Nation who led Council and attendees through a ceremony involving prayer, smudging and an honour song.

The Meeting Place at Fort Edmonton Park’s Indigenous Peoples Experience.

• Dr. Scott McLeod shared his Registrar’s report, which included an update on sponsorship, an important step towards bringing internationally trained medical graduates into Alberta. As of Feb. 12, 2025, CPSA had received 255 sponsorship applications, with 196 sponsors being approved to post 343 positions across Alberta. Dr. McLeod and Council also discussed the benefits of physician mobility and work with the Medical Council of Canada towards the National Physician Registry.
• Council approved a revision to CPSA’s Bylaws, which will come into effect on May 1, 2025. One of the key revisions allows for an enhanced election process. We anticipate additional revisions to the bylaws by the end of the year.

Stay up to date on the latest Council news and decisions

There are lots of ways to keep up with Council before, during and after the quarterly meetings:

• The agenda and dossier materials are available on CPSA’s website prior to each meeting.
• Anyone is welcome to observe Council meetings virtually—to receive the meeting link, please complete the attendance form.
• If you’re not able to follow the meeting in real time, you can also find the meeting minutes on our website a few weeks later.