Council Elections

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Competency & AttributesCouncil Election Timeline

CPSA Council elections

The Health Professions Act (HPA) specifies that half of CPSA’s councillors are public members appointed by Alberta’s Lieutenant-Governor in Council. The other half is made up of regulated members who are elected by CPSA’s regulated members (physicians and physician assistants).

Nomination process review

In the past, any regulated member with a valid practice permit that isn’t suspended could consider becoming a candidate in an election for a regulated member position on CPSA Council. From 2025 onward, this process has been updated.

In 2022, CPSA hired an external expert to conduct a comprehensive governance review to identify best practices for structures, policies and processes. Based on the outcome of this review, CPSA Council approved a change to the CPSA Council nomination process. The updated nomination process will build on the contributions of all previous and existing members and help Council continue to reflect the diverse backgrounds, competencies and lived experiences of regulated members in Alberta while maintaining a focus on CPSA’s mandate to protect the public.

Updated nomination process

The new CPSA Council election process involves these steps:

  • CPSA issues a call for nominations to our regulated members each May.
  • Interested regulated members:
    • Demonstrate adherence to eligibility criteria
    • Submit a resume, cover letter and physician references.
    • Acknowledge that they understand the time and commitment required of a Councillor.
    • Provide a brief description of relevant experience such as:
      • Years of experience in the medical field
      • Medical specializations/areas of interest
      • Other professional designations and pursuits
    • Complete a short survey self-evaluating technical competencies.

A third-party will assist CPSA in recruitment and screening candidates. After a preliminary screening, selected submissions are reviewed by the Nomination Committee, and successful candidates are scheduled for an interview. Following interviews, reference checks are completed and final candidates are selected and announced in the summer.

This timeline change provides voting regulated members with more time to research and get to know the candidates before the election. If there are more candidates than vacancies, an election is held in October.

Eligibility requirements

A regulated member on the General Register, the Provisional Register or the Limited Practice Register may be eligible for nomination for election to a regulated member vacancy on Council if:

  • They do not hold a current role/position that could present as a conflict of interest,
  • They are a regulated member in good standing with CPSA,
  • The member is in compliance with the Health Professions Act (HPA), and
  • Their primary residence is Alberta.

For more details on eligibility, please review CPSA bylaws.

Competencies and attributes: What do you bring to the table?

In addition to basic eligibility, regulated members will be assessed using the newly developed competency profile for the following core and technical competencies and attributes. Core competencies and attributes should be present in any physician wishing to submit a nomination. We would also like to know how candidates describe their proficiency in technical competencies, which help to ensure Council is balanced and well-equipped to support CPSA’s mandate.

Core Competencies and Attributes:

Integrity

  • Always keeps the greater good of the organization and the people it represents in mind
  • Makes principle-centered decisions based on the governance principles of the organization
  • Appropriately manages sensitive and confidential information

Accountability

  • Assumes responsibility, accountability and follows through when making commitments to Council and committees

Humility

  • Demonstrates empathy, sincerity, honesty and respect
  • Adheres to the values of the organization

Resiliency

  • Maintains composure and perspective in difficult or volatile situations
  • Is not threatened by ambiguity and conflict

Effective Communication

  • Actively listens to messages being communicated by others
  • Is transparent but constructive about opinions
  • Articulates complex ideas in a clear understandable way
  • Effectively participates in meetings and discussions to assist participants in reaching shared decisions, and fostering positive relationships

Strategic and Inclusionary leadership

  • Has broad knowledge and perspectives
  • Understands the trends in the environment and the impact it may have on the organization
  • Adopts a long-term view of organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks in a changing operational environment
  • Demonstrates awareness and ongoing personal and professional learning on a variety of topics including diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism, Truth and Reconciliation
  • Clearly articulates a practical and common vision for the future and builds a credible case for change or improvement

Political Acumen

  • Understands the mandate of CPSA and its ‘arms-length’ relationship from government
  • Understands and respects the role, responsibilities and authorities of the Council/Board, governments, leadership and staff
  • Demonstrates diplomacy and good judgement in sensitive situations
  • Understands structure and decision-making at senior and political levels

Excellent Judgment

  • Efficiently and effectively perceives and assesses situations related to Council/ Board deliberations
  • Asks the right questions to get the information needed by the team
  • Draws sound conclusions and makes good decisions based on the information available

Understanding of the Canadian and Alberta Healthcare Ecosystem

  • Knowledge of various groups and their role in the system
  • Understanding of patient rights
  • Awareness of the social determinants of health
  • Awareness of success indicators for the health care system

Technical Competencies:

Financial Acumen

  • Understands the basic revenue/expense model of the organization
  • Basic knowledge of accounting, budgeting, financial reporting and monitoring processes
  • Understands financial statements and balance sheets

Technology and Data Management Acumen

  • Working knowledge of the applications/programs used in conducting the work of the Council – email, portals, social media, data storage
  • Awareness of the advances in technology and how they could be used to advance the organization’s capabilities
  • Awareness of the importance of investment balanced with the cost/benefit of implementation

Human Resource Management

  • Basic understanding of the importance of culture and its impact on the performance of the organization
  • Basic knowledge of the elements of human resource management- recruitment and selection, compensation, performance management, training and professional development, succession management

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism

  • Basic understanding of diversity, inequity, exclusion and racism effect experiences in healthcare
  • Awareness of how the lived experience of some Albertans impacts their interactions with the healthcare system

Legal Acumen

  • Basic understanding of all relevant legislation and regulation

Election for 2026 Councillor(s)

Council election timeline

May 1, 2025 Nominations open
May 30, 2025 Nominations close
(Proposed) October 2, 2025 Voting opens
(Proposed) October 30, 2025 Voting closes
November 13, 2025 New Councillors officially announced in Messenger
January 1, 2026 New Councillors start their term

Questions about CPSA Council Elections?

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Role of a CPSA Councillor

Council members are responsible for governing CPSA and fulfilling its legislative mandate, making policy decisions that help CPSA meet its obligations to Albertans.