PLEASE NOTE: This blog has been updated with new information, and to remove an unfortunate aspersion that was cast on the administrators of the PFI Facebook group.
Recently, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) announced plans to increase the Family Practice residency to three years. This is, in my opinion, the stupidest decision they have made in my 31 years of practice. They should fix the current residency program instead. They also announced plans to increase the fees that family doctors pay by 7%, at a time when most family doctors are struggling to stay afloat. This would be the second stupidest decision the CFPC has made in my 31 years of practice.
There is, however, some hope. Some members have gotten some private members motions onto the agenda for the CFPC Annual General meeting. If enough ordinary members vote for those motions, it will pressure the CFPC Board into doing the right thing and stopping the implementation of these changes. In typical Ivory Tower fashion, the CFPC has made the voting process exceptionally convoluted. It’s so labyrinthine that it made we wonder if it was done on purpose to discourage members voting. Ivory Tower types don’t usually like listening to the masses.
However, a step by step detailed set of instructions on how to vote down these proposals were posted by Dr. Liz Zubek on her Facebook page. Dr. Zubek stresses that this is an accumulation of information gathered by many doctors and she herself has copied and pasted much of it to form the final set of directions.
Dr. Zubek forwarded to me the detailed instructions that the CFPC doesn’t want you to see on my blog. Here’s how to vote ONLINE and IN ADVANCE of the Annual General Meeting. You do not have to attend in person and can do it from your comfy (?) office chair.
From Dr. Zubek’s Facebook page:
There is an ability to vote down the 3rd year of residency with private member motions buried in the agenda for the upcoming CFPC AGM, plus the ability to vote for transparency asking the CFPC to post something as simple as board and committee minutes, so we can actually see how they come to their decisions that make no sense to us …..and we can also vote on their wish to increase our yearly fees. But it isn’t easy to vote!
These are instructions for how to vote by proxy in advance in the CFPC annual member meeting taken from another post: How To Vote, CFPC 2023
1. Find the two emails from Oct 11th called “1 of 2” and “2 of 2” (search “Participate CFPC” if you’ve already deleted them). Click where it says “Register here”:
2. That will take you to a new page. The “control number” to enter here is in the “2 of 2” email from October 11th . You may have to type it in because copy and paste hasn’t worked for a number of people.
3. Once you hit “Login”, it will take you to a new screen. Here, select “Yes, I wish to appoint a proxy”. This means you are registering your vote ahead of the meeting and don’t have to attend the meeting. (If you do end up attending, you are allowed to change your vote):
4. After you press “continue”, it will thank you and then send you two more emails that will take 20-30 minutes to arrive. NEW INFORMATION: Despite doing this 12 hours ago (as of this writing), I have yet to get a second email. Some physicians have told me it is now taking up to 24 hours to get an email. Many are complaining that they are having difficulty logging in in the first place.
5. Open the new “1 of 2” email and click on the weird looking “lumimeet” link and use the password that’s in the new “2 of 2” email to log in. Again, you may have to type it in because copy and paste hasn’t worked for a number of people.
6. You’re almost there! On this page, you can now click to read all the motions if you like. When you’re ready, you click the “Voting” tab at the top and you can…vote!
7. In the interest of democracy, I will not tell you how to vote. However I will tell you that I voted “no” to the fee of increase and “yes” to the next four motions for greater transparency, information as to how the 3rd yr decision was made, a financial impact report of the 3rd year, and to put a hold on 3rd year implementation. Hope this is useful! Now go and vote!! It’s so important.”
You MUST vote by MONDAY OCTOBER 30, 2023 at 5:00 pm!
My two cents:
This grumpy old country doctor intends to vote exactly like Dr. Zubek did. No to the fee increase. Yes to the next four motions. It’s unclear at this time whether these motions are binding on the CFPC Board. But at the very least, us ordinary members have to say our piece.
My initial blog, which I do believe was factual, commented on the fact that this post had been deleted from the Facebook group PFI by the administrators. The author had also been removed from the group. The way I wrote about it unfortunately cast aspersions on the administrators of PFI. That was inappropriate on my part and for that I am truly sorry. My goal was to comment on the fact I felt (and do still feel) it was inappropriate to remove a member without warning, but the initial way it was written suggested something more. That was wrong of me. My apologies again.
But one thing at time. Vote to stop the 3 year residency and fee increases first. Then let’s find out how the situation became so unseemly so quickly.
justanoldcountrydoctor 
Thank you very much. Without reading your post, the CFPC email would have been lost in the junk box, I’d never know this important issue is put to the vote. The instructions were very helpful to navigate to do the actual vote.
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Great blog, Sohail.
This is just one example of anti-democratic behaviour by the CFPC … the convoluted process required to vote can not be accidental. Years ago I declined to join the CFPC because I thought the organization was way too close to government for Family Medicine’s own good, and even though I’m retired, this shenanigans reaffirms my decision.
Be well.
Mike
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An important issue, Sohail … even for a retiree like me.
The CFPC has for years been a willing acolyte of government, dependent on government largess for its own survival and much too subservient for any possible good which could accrue to Family Medicine. While its purpose and jurisdiction should be strictly educational, it’s noteworthy that the CFPC has recently shown itself more than willing to expand its influence into medical and representational politics. This is something for which it has sought no permission or mandate from members.
The issues which you comment on, and the tortuous voting process which members are required to navigate in order to vote on this matter cannot be accidental.
Live and learn, everyone.
And while you’re at it, maybe start paying attention to the myriad ways in which government tentacles have already infiltrated our other institutions … Like the CPSO and the CMPA.
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Thank you Sohail,
It is interesting to note, that actually reached out to Dr. Michael Green and asked how I could have my say on this. He did not elaborate on this at all but rather indicated I was the victim of misinformation.
I am also quite concerned, regarding the talk of a dedicated Family Medicine medical school track.
How cynical!
The CFPC-seems bent, on having control from day 1 of medical school through to graduation of the third year of a Family Medicine residency.
The third year is needed – buy the way to :
“And our goal is to increase skills in identified areas of societal importance that need attention including mental health and addictions, long-term care, and cultural safety and humility.” Only an Academic echo chamber could come up with this nonsense.
Thank you so much for this link. I will be sure to vote and share with my colleagues.
Brian
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