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

As an MRT(T), I am opposed to this motion to increase our licensing fees. A 37% increase in fees is alarming, and does not match any increase to our income (which is already capped). The CMRITO righteously works to protect the public, but the cost required to the members is steep and borderline unaffordable when the college does not provide useful services to its own members. This proposed action has me seriously considering leaving the college and looking for work in other provinces, which have significantly less fees.

Given the current economic hardship we are all going through as members of the CMRITO it is outrageous that this collage is even considering a fee increase. Instead of increasing you should consider lowering the fees. Compared to other provinces we are paying one of the highest fees, yet the service is identical.

This DRASTIC increase in fees in infuriating. With an annual increase to the cost of living in Ontario being around the 2.1% mark, a 37% increase in fees seems absurd. With the current shortage of MRT's I think this increase could be detrimental to Ontario's Health Care. How does this SERVE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST as mentioned in your online vision statement?! Nursing fees have continued to decrease over the years as an incentive to work in a very trying and challenging field. Technologists in Alberta make roughly 44.04$ an hour and their annual fees are 450$(which also hasn't increased in 8 years) for their 2686 active registrants. Technologists in BC make roughly 42.39$ an hour and their annual fees are 80$. Nova Scotia MRT's pay 450$ annually and they have 791 active registrants. New Brunswick has 559 active registrants who pay 215$ annually. Quebec has 6663 active registrants who pay 505$ annually. The average wage of an MRT in Ontario is 39.94$ an hour and our fees would be 726.59$ with tax with 11378 active registrants. This is the MOST registrants with the HIGHEST fees and the LOWEST wage. The numbers are not adding up here. In comparison this increase is ABSURD, and I believe it should not only stay at the current amount but should be lowered be within the limits of the other provinces in our country. Some other ways I propose to decrease the cost of the CMRITO to meet financial goals would be to downsize in overhead office staff or decrease overhead costs such as infrastructure or relocating offices to a less costly area of the province (Toronto is the most expensive location in the province for an office). This annual fee doesn't even cover our liability insurance! This proposal is quite honestly insulting and infuriating, and I REALLY hope this is deeply reconsidered. Many technologists are already struggling financially, and I feel this would be a big mistake that would only increase the shortage of MRTs. PLEASE RECONSIDER as this directly affects the MRT's who are caring for you and your family.

How disgusting of the CMRITO to take advantage of its registrants like this. This proposed fee increase is absurd and excessive, particularly in the current economic climate. The nearly 37% increase places an undue burden on registrants who are already managing the pressures of rising costs of living and stagnant wages within the healthcare sector. While the CMRITO has only raised fees twice in 32 years, that does not justify such a drastic increase in a single move. Claiming that this increase is necessary for financial stability by 2028 raises questions about the organization's financial planning and foresight. It seems unreasonable to expect registrants to shoulder the responsibility for long-term goals that should have been managed more gradually. Especially when this organization provides NOTHING to those who pay these fees. Increasing fees this drastically is theft. Moreover, the rationale provided does not address the significant impact this increase will have on individual registrants. Personally, Ive been a full-time employee for the past 10+ years and I’m already living paycheck-to-paycheck. While I understand the public interest is all the CMRITO cares about, it cannot be used to justify such a substantial financial burden on US, the professionals, especially without clear and transparent justification. How much does your CEO make? How much has the CEOs profits increased over the years? We strongly urge the Council to reconsider this proposal and explore more balanced, measured approaches to achieving financial stability without disproportionately affecting those who keep this profession running.

400,000$ in rent and 220,000$ in meeting fees a year. Sounds like instead of a 36% increase you need a per diem for travel, dinner, hotel stays to keep your spending more reasonable...I mean or you can just try to take 36% more from us that's easier right? ...Don't forget to order the steak and lobster.

I am writing to strongly oppose the proposed increase in the annual registration fee from $470 to $643. A 37% increase is excessive, unjustified, and places an unnecessary financial burden on registrants, especially considering the current economic climate. It is important to note that throughout the pandemic, CMRITO did not advocate for any wage support to its registrants, despite the challenges we faced on the frontlines of healthcare. Furthermore, with the integration of ultrasound professionals into the College, CMRITO saw a considerable increase in its membership, which should have provided additional financial resources to the College. Given these factors, it is difficult to understand why such a steep fee increase is now being proposed. Before implementing this change, CMRITO should provide full financial transparency, including detailed reports explaining why this increase is necessary and what alternative options, such as cost-cutting measures or a gradual increase, were considered. Without this information, the proposed hike appears to be an unjustifiable burden on registrants. I urge the Council to reconsider this proposal and to explore options that are more equitable for all members.

"As a sonographer, it's frustrating to see such a significant fee increase proposed without any clear, tangible benefits for those of us on the front lines. While financial stability is important, raising fees from $470 to $643 without addressing the daily challenges we face or offering us additional support feels unfair. This increase, especially in such uncertain economic times, seems to burden healthcare professionals without considering our well-being or professional growth. What positive outcomes are we, as sonographers, supposed to experience from this? It feels like we're being asked to contribute more with no direct return."

I disagree with raising the annual registration fee. Raising the fee by over 35% is extreme. In the document talking about the reason for the increase, it seems odd to cite inflation considering wages have not increased to reflect inflation. Has the CMRITO been mismanaging their budget to such an extent that you're now trying to get members to pay for your mistakes? Yes, the CMRITO is for the public's protection but please explain to your members as well as the public how a more than 35% increase is justifiable. If you can't be trusted to budget and handle money correctly, how can you be trusted with protecting the public?

A 37% increase in fees is astronomical. Absolutely unjustifiable.

I do not agree with the proposed huge increase of CMRTO fees. This will not encourage people to go into this field and we are already very short staffed in radiation therapy. Also I am not sure what the college does for me and what the fees are used for. Other provinces don't have a college so why does Ontario have to have one?

I cannot afford the fee, even the previous one was too high. Our slight salary increase is not enough to cover the increased cost of living. I'm afraid this may force some technologists leave the field or leave the country to work somewhere else.

I do not care of CMRITO's goals for 2028. This annual price increase is UNFAIR and is punishing. As prices for EVERYTHING are surging, this really seems to taking advantage of that by gouging its members. I DO NOT SUPPORT this change and it is extremely unfair and if this were to pass I will be looking to move outside Canada.

I'm literally not even sure what CMRITO does for me or where my yearly 470$ goes so it doesn't seem right to increase by 173$ with zero transparency as to what the money even does. At least if you're going to skyrocket this ridiculous fund, make it not mandatory to be a member of the college. Other provinces don't have a college, why do we have to. Rather get liability insurance from another source than CMRITO.

Diagnostic imaging is an essential part of health care, but was not advocated for during the pandemic and received no pandemic pay. Technologists worked side by side nurses, receptionists, janitorial staff who all received the pandemic pay received no extra compensation. Now to propose an increase of 37% is distasteful and insulting. Until our wages keeps up with inflation, or sees a sudden 37% adjustment, this proposal is unacceptable.

To keep this short, asking each member for an extra $173 per annum amounts to over 2 million dollars for the college. The reason stated by the college "to reach its financial goals in 2028 to secure the long-term financial stability of the College" is simply not good enough as an explanation. We deserve more. Sonography fought so hard to be regulated, to simply be thrown into financial distress is an outrage. There should be a proposal, auditors that assess the financials, and a plan that should receive majority votes by the members of CMRITO instead of an email that is informing us of a substantial fee increase. It is an insult to say the least. I would be happy to discuss further should the college actually choose to listen to its members.

Sonographers don’t receive any benefits from CMRITO and in addition we pay an annual fee to Sonography Canada. Salaries are not matching to accommodate for all these fees! Considering the current economy, this is not the time to increase annual fees and give further reason for trained individuals to leave the profession. The first thing CMRITO needs to consider is increasing salaries and not the CMRITO registration fee!

As a sonographer registered under CMRITO, I feel the increase is insane. We do not receive any benefits from this organization as it is. Additionally, sonographers are required to pay annual registration fees to Sonography Canada. Sonographers do not get paid enough to be able to afford to pay this annual fee. CMRITO provides its benefits to patients moreso than it does to us sonographers so the increase in fee does not provide any Increase in benefits to us. Especially in this economy, this big of an increase does not help anyone thus i am not happy with it!!

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To whome this may concern, The timing if this couldn't be worse for our profession! Now when cost of living are at their highest (food, interest rates, taxes, CCP, CPP 2, Union Dues, ect) and us front line healthcare being now at the bottom part of the middle class according to todays employment standands. There was a time when I could hold my family with my rate of pay but unfortunately that is not the case. You are asking us lower middle class to now gift ourselves a 37% increase in fees for our birthday. You have increased your intake by including Sonographers but yet you require a substantial increase in funds. Its hard not to be disheartnened and wonder how your committee came to this conculsion. It will continue to become harder and harder to fill MRT possitions in all modalities if our takehome at year end keeps decreasing. Assistants with no deploma or degree in other industries are making 6 figures with no fees or dues and that is getting harder and harder to accept. RN's pay 1/2 of what we pay and thats a hard pill to swallow yet again (The 2024 renewal fee for nurses in the General and Extended classes is $340. (With HST, the total is $384.20.) I ask that you reduce the increase to reasonal percentage with a plan of incremental increases over a set amount of time. * 7% 2025 * 5% each year until you hit your 37% goal This 37% increase is kicking your members while we are down and overworked. Thank you for your ear, I hope I was heard.

May I ask why there are a significant difference in fees between provinces? Fee increase should align more with our annual cost of living increase, perhaps a small increase each year makes more sense. While province is asking us to do more for less, has CMRITO looked into ways to cut back vs just transferring additional cost to the members?