Elections

Overview
The College’s Council and Committees are made up of peer-elected dental hygienists and government-appointed public members. The 22 members of Council make decisions that affect how dental hygiene is practised and regulated in Ontario. Council’s primary role, through discussion and decisions, is to protect the public interest.

There are nine elected dental hygienists from across the province, two academic dental hygienists that are selected by their peers and eleven appointed public members. The term of office of a Council member is three years. Council members participate in statutory committees and may also serve on non-statutory committees.

Eligibility to Stand for Election
As a CDHO member you are eligible for election to Council in an electoral district if, on the date of the election, the member is engaged in the practice of dental hygiene in the electoral district for which she or he is nominated, and the district is the location of the members' principal practice. Or, if the member is not engaged in the practice of dental hygiene and member maintains her or his principal residence in the electoral district for which she or he is nominated, they may stand for election.

To stand for election as a Council member, the registrant:

• Must not be in default of payment of any College fees;
• Must not be the subject of any disciplinary or incapacity proceeding;
• Has complied for a period of three years before the date of the election with all aspects of an order of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee or Fitness to Practise Committee;
• Certificate of registration is not subject to a term, condition or limitation imposed by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee or Fitness to Practise Committee;
• Has not been a voting member of the provincial or national board of directors or an appointed official of the Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association or the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association within the year preceding the closing of nominations;
• Is not an employee of the College.

• District #1 - Southwestern (one elected representative): Bruce, Grey, Elgin, Essex, Huron, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Oxford and Perth.
• District #2 - Central Western (North) (one elected representative): Wellington, Simcoe, Dufferin and the regional municipalities of Halton and Peel.
• District #3 - Central Western (South) (one elected representative): Brant and the regional municipalities of Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton-Wentworth, Niagara and Waterloo.
• District #4 - Eastern (two elected representatives): York and Metropolitan Toronto.
• District #5 - North East (one elected representative): Frontenac, Peterborough, Hastings, Lanark, Lennox and Addington, Prince Edward, Victoria, Haliburton, Northumberland and the regional municipality of Durham.
• District #6 - Eastern District (one elected representative): Dundas, Glengarry, Leeds and Grenville, Prescott and Russell, Renfrew and Stormont and the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton.
• District #7 - Northeastern District (one elected representative): Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin, Muskoka, Nipissing, North Bay, Parry Sound, Sudbury and Timiskaming.
• District #8 - Northwestern District (one elected representative): Rainy River, Thunder Bay and Kenora.

Interested?
You can influence the future of dental hygiene practice and regulation in Ontario by participating in an election by voting or being a candidate for Council. If you would like more information about the roles and obligations of Council and Committee members, or have questions about the election process, please call 416-961-6234 or 1-800-268-2346.