Proposed changes to By-law No. 60 regarding annual registration fee

An almost 50% increase in1 year is totally unacceptable. Our wages only go up 1-2% a year. This is something that will push those still working past retirement age into retirement and could very well push young sonographers to look elsewhere for work where it doesn’t cost so much just to do our jobs, perhaps they’ll go out west or to the US, etc. In this time of staffing shortages throughout healthcare, is that really what we want to do, push people out of these jobs? Stating that you’ve only increased fees twice in 32 years does not make me feel better about it. That says to me that you have not been financially responsible. If I own a house and rent it out but do not gradually increase the rent each year, one day the rent I’m getting won’t cover the bills. I can’t just suddenly tell my tenants your rent is increasing by 50% and think they’re going to be ok with that. So no, I do not think the registrants should have to make up for your financial mistakes all at once.

Although you state that it is lower than other organizations, these organizations are for higher earning careers. You added ultrasound and it is mandatory to be registered so your numbers grew. You need to budget better and not do such a larger increase of almost 200 dollars after taxes. Many that have to register with you to work haven't had a pay raise to meet such an increase. Maybe you should consider those who have to pay and their income before you do such a large increase. I know ceos and the like always want more. When I have to pay this to work I don't want to pay so you can gave that second home or fancy car when I can't even buy a house on my own.

Unfortunately, this fee is not acceptable. It is already too high to be increased more. I am not happy to pay more

That is a 36% increase which is unacceptable. The fees are already way to high

This is absolutely ridiculous! Half of the comparative list are physicians. How are nurses the lowest on the list. Your comment to remember it’s to protect the public, what about protecting us. If this goes through sonographers aren’t going to be able to afford being registered. I absolutely DO NOT SUPPORT THIS!

Average income of a Doctor in Ontario is 239 000, average salary of an oral surgeon is 318 729. . Average physio is 128 606. Just a quick google of salaries . Absolutely not comparable to our wages . Why is there such a deficit with a huge increase in memberships with the sonographers joining ? Where is all the money going ?

As our regulatory college, I am disappointed with how out of touch you are with its members. Since Covid we worked without the same pandemic praise and bonuses as other health care workers. As a whole we are working short staffed and longer hours. Former coworkers have left to other provinces for better wages leaving the remaining members to pick up the additional workload. At a time when some of us finally negotiated a slightly better wage increase, you decide to take a piece of the “pie”. This proposal screams “blatant cash grab” and padding the salaries of the executives who work there. The QA process is now completely online which would reduce manpower. Commercial buildings are empty in major cities so you can look at new “cheaper” office space. Yet it seems that “taxing” its members is the first option. Since I have been a member, the membership ballooned because Sonography was included which should have substantially increased your coffers. Between 2011 to the present, your members haven’t received pay increases as much as the proposed 36% increase to the fees. Majority of the other regulatory colleges you listed make more in annual salary than MRTs with less total members. I suggest you reconsider your proposed fee increase.

We are not happy with increasing the annual fee , it’s hard for us to pay , specially with so low pay rates for us please do not increase the fee .

I think 470$ + tax is already high enough! To increase the fee by 37% is completely outrageous. What are these financial goals that you need to reach by 2028??? How does this become the hard working technologists of Ontario's problem? Techs already pay an insane amount per year with CMRITO fee and Sonography Canada. We already pay more than anyone else and now you want to increase it even more. We are in need of more techs and by doing this you will encourage more people to retire. I really wish you would not increase it!!!

The fee increase is unreasonable especially considering we, MRTs, do not receive any corresponding increase in services. The amount we currently pay is arguably expensive. Some provinces like Saskatchewan combine the college fee with CAMRT so we can benefit from educational material but the average MRT only pays for CMRITO because it is mandatory without getting any service, along with paying for the CAMRT for education and OAMRS for professional liability. This already costs about $1k each year, just to work in the field. Now you are adding $170!! Almost 40% hike increase!! That's just atrocious!! We have other bills to pay; we have families to support! If the increase followed the inflation rate, sure (again, we already pay too much) but almost 40% increase? That doesn't make ANY sense!

This increase is quite excessive. When you look at the fees you are proposing, these are comparable to colleges with less than half of the number of members of CMRITO (with the exception of physiotherapy and psychotherapy). My question to CMRITO is: what is this substantial increase in fees paying for? Aside from not increasing fees for “years”, what is the purpose and what will this increase in fees pay for? CMRITO has experienced an increase in the number of members in recent years with the addition of sonographers. These fees alone would have equated to a substantial increase in revenue for CMRITO. I do not see where this substantial increase in fees makes sense at all!

Dear; I am writing to express my concerns regarding the recent fee increases and to request greater transparency on how these increases are determined and utilized. While it has been mentioned that fees have only been raised twice in the past 32 years, I believe this should not be the primary reason for further increases. I kindly request a detailed breakdown of each fee increase, how much the fees were raised, and how the additional revenue has been allocated. Additionally, I would like to highlight that the current annual fee for a lab technologist is $384.20 ($340 + tax), and we x-ray tech pay much higher than fees for professionals in comparable roles. As a radiation technologist, I earn a slightly lower hourly wage than a lab technologist at UHN, yet my responsibilities include managing challenging patients and frequent exposure to X-rays. I also believe that the CMRITO should consider its financial decisions, such as office rentals, ensuring that funds are spent efficiently and not on expensive or luxurious office spaces. The financial burden on technologists is growing, especially in the current economic climate with inflation eroding our real income. For many of us, including myself, this career is essential for supporting our families, and the prospect of an additional $200 fee increase each year (post-tax) is alarming, and it is about 36% increase(post-tax)! I urge the CMRITO to carefully assess the financial situation and compare fee structures with other registrants in similar professions to ensure fairness and affordability. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your response.

I am absolutely against the proposed change in membership fees. The fee of $470+tax is already far too high. Some provinces only require CAMRT memberships which, at most, is $245 with PLI included. The CMRITO should decrease their membership fee to $235 annually.

What exactly are the financial goals? Is this a for profit organization? Why such s huge increase all at once? Given that all of the MRT's have to be registered and then all of the sonographers were added as well a few years back, there should be enough money. I think that it would behoove the college to scale down expenses. The province and especially the city are already expensive. There is already a shortage of technologists and this will lessen incentive to work in Ontario.

Hello, This excessive increase at a time when inflation is high and members are facing significant financial constraints seems to be out of touch with the people you serve. Please review your budget and adjust to a fiscally responsible response. Everyone is living with less these days, please do not exempt the CMRITO. Thank you.

Absolutely shocking. With fees that are already difficult to pay, due to the high cost, this is unnacceptable. As a young Sonographer with a growing family funds are already tight. Could you please have some consideration for your members who are working extremely hard yet still struggling to get by. This increase will not only force members into retirement, it will force technologists out of Ontario. The hospital I work at currently is desperate and I mean desperate for Sonographers and we are suffering from stress and burnout due to low staff numbers. This nearly 40% increase in dues will do nothing but cause more stress on members and sick leaves will be inevitable. The fact CMRITO would even consider this high of an increase shows the company does not have any of the members best interests at heart.

I strongly disagree with this increase or even any increase. We are already paying a lot yearly, plus we have to pay PLI also. When we ask for annual increase in pay, our managers give lame excuses and do not increase the pay. The cost of living in Canada is too high. If CMRITO, want the sonographers to continue working peacefully, please drop this idea of increasing the annual registration fee.

A 37% increase is just not acceptable. We pay a large enough sum already. Especially for those of us who work part time, the increasing costs of everything is becoming unbearable. I'd like to know how the funds we already pay are distributed and where money can be saved instead of increasing fees.

This increase will put technologists well over $1000 between the college and OAMRS. How are we able to afford this. And what does the college do for me if I don’t need it for legal reasons? Only to make sure I keep my education up that we also have to pay for. Why are we more than nursing? They have more risks in their job then we do.

The increase in fees is absolutely ridiculous considering this college barely does anything for us. All the courses offered through the college for continuing education are also outrageously priced. Seems like a money grab at every turn. Not sure how other provinces without a body can function yet here we are dishing out our hard earned money for a college that doesn’t even include liability insurance as a part of our license. I hold a license to work in the states for a fraction of the cost to work in Canada. I am highly opposed to this increase unless you can tell me exactly where the funds are going because in the last 12 years I still have no idea. What are you doing for us as a profession? You could t even fight during the pandemic. I don’t see the point