The CMA has always been, and will continue to be a member-centred association. Supporting physicians and the medical profession has been our core mandate for 151 years, and it will continue to be for decades to come.
The CMA's support comes in different forms. It comes from addressing physician health and burnout - one of the most pressing issues facing the profession - and preparing physicians for the massive changes new technology will bring. It comes through building communities of interest, where physicians connect with each other to address equity in medicine, substance use, access for marginalized populations, and other issues that matter to the profession. It includes our advocacy work on Parliament Hill, bringing physicians' voices to the table when the government considers policy changes that affect the profession or the health of Canadians. Tax reform, cannabis legislation, MAID, and seniors' care are all recent examples of national issues where the CMA successfully drove policy reform.
Change is never easy, but it is needed. Two years ago, the CMA began extensive consultations to modernize our governance, which will see our board size reduced to one individual from every jurisdiction, students and residents, a non-physician, along with a nationally-elected president. We engaged with members, PTMAs and affiliates to discuss these changes, and created new approaches to engaging members to ensure our policy setting process was more responsive, inclusive and accessible to all our members. The next chapter in these governance changes will be presented at our AGM in Winnipeg (August 22), where we are asking our members to give us the mandate to streamline our board, retire General Council, and make the CMA President a national vote where all members cast a ballot.
We have heard from our members that you want us to make meaningful change, for the profession and for the public, and we will deliver. Investing in physician health and wellness to deal with physician burnout. Building a medical culture based on shared values and respect, to the benefit of all members of the profession. Advocating for sufficient postgraduate training positions. Creating opportunities and platforms for better connection and collaboration between physicians. Fighting unfair tax measures targeting physicians. Compelling the federal government to fix our broken health system. Advocating for a better future of health, and health care.
This is the CMA's vision. And we invite all physicians of Canada to join us in driving a bold future for the profession and for all Canadians.
Dr. Laurent Marcoux
CMA President
Dr. Gigi Osler
CMA President-Elect