Members Reminded to Cast Ballot in Fee Bylaw Amendment Vote
The Association is currently seeking member ratification of a bylaw to increase the registered member fee to $335. Ratification of this bylaw is extremely important to allow the Association to adequately perform its regulatory responsibilities and duties under the act. At present, registered member fees only cover 77% of regulatory costs - the remainder of these costs is supported by revenue generated by other sources such as affinity programs, advertising, and professional development seminars. Unfortunately revenue from these programs is unpredictable and due to current economic conditions is in decline.
Should an increase to the registered member fee not be approved, the Association will not be able to effectively perform its regulatory duties. Cuts will have to be made in a number of areas such as the enforcement of non-registered practitioners, and practice guideline development. We will also be forced to run a deficit which is all the more challenging as we have already essentially depleted our financial reserves.
As an organization, we need the resources to carry out our regulatory role dutifully. And, as a self-regulating association, the onus lies on the membership to determine whether that financial capacity exists. To find out more about the challenges your regulatory body is facing due to inadequate funding and to cast your ballot in this critical bylaw vote, please visit www.apeg.bc.ca/about/fee_bylaw.html.