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

I think this is a bit of an outrageous hike in fees. Many people are already struggling with the increased cost of living these days (and wage increases that don’t reflect that). While I understand an increase in the fee may be necessary a nearly 37% increase is a lot to ask.

In a time where the world is more expensive and annual raises are not covering the increase of cost of living this feels criminal. A 36% increase when wage increases often fall at 3% a year this makes no sense at all. If you continue to raise costs without increasing benefit you will lose members in a society where MRTs are already fleeing an under appreciated and underpaid profession

Absolutely unfair to increase our fees to pay your costs. What extra benefits will we be getting in return? Our wages haven't increased significantly and you would have gained a large amount of new registrants when ultrasound became regulated.

In view of the economy crisis we are already finding it difficult to meet ends, increasing the fees has no benefit at all for sonographers. It’s or like CMRITO is providing any paid CMEs or other educational programs for sonographers. We do not get enough salary increment and the raise in the fees is unproportionate and hence is increasing financial burden and mental stress for sonographers. Kindly reject this proposal and do not increase the fees.

Dear CMRITO, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed increase in the Annual Registration Fees from $470 to $643. While I understand the need to maintain the quality of regulatory services, this increase places an undue financial burden on sonography techs like myself, especially given the current economic climate. With rising inflation and the cost of living affecting all Canadians, including healthcare professionals, this increase feels unsustainable and difficult to justify. Many of us are already struggling with financial constraints, and an increase of this magnitude would only add more pressure. I kindly request that CMRITO reconsider this proposal and regect the proposal, please allow us to maintain our registration without any fee increase. Thank you for taking the time to consider my feedback.

I don’t agree on the new annual registration fee

The proposed fee increase of 50%, resulting in annual fees exceeding $700 after tax, is excessive for CMRITO members. As medical imaging technologists, we already pay higher fees compared to other healthcare professionals. While a modest increase of $10-$20 could be understandable, the current proposal is unreasonable, especially considering that a single shift of work is insufficient to cover the fee. The current economic climate, with rising living, food, and gas prices, makes it challenging for young technologists to save money. This profession is becoming increasingly difficult, and the proposed fee increase adds further discouragement. It is concerning that CMRITO is not meeting its financial budget despite the addition of 11,000 new members from ultrasound techs, which should have contributed over $1 million in fees. This proposal feels like a disregard for the struggles of working professionals trying to stay afloat. I strongly disagree with the proposed licensing fee and urge the college to reconsider this decision.

Oh no yeah this is a great idea I always wondered what it’d be like to go to university for 4 years, be underpaid for my entire career because no hospital wants to take the jump to actually pay MRTs (at least) a living wage, and be exploited by every department in healthcare, including my own regulatory body now that I have to pay an even higher annual registration fee than RNs do. I can finally close on that cardboard box that I am now able to afford. Thanks CMRITO!

It's ridiculous. The money we pay for CMRITO is twice or triple higher than we pay for Sonography Canada or ARDMS. What are we getting for that money? You are useless organization that charging money just for name, providing nothing in return, even your website is barely working.

Definitely not supportive of this change. What exactly do you do that warrants the current fee to begin with? I get absolutely nothing from CMRITO. I got more from Sonography Canada at a way cheaper price. Regulation? A new Jurisprudence course? For what exactly? Propose making cuts and show us how those cuts would impact us. Perhaps there are things we can do without. Increasing fees is very tone-deaf in today's world. I'm shocked CMRITO would try to do that... and at such a steep increase.

If the fees must be increase, how about adding some benefits/perks of being a member of the CMRITO. Such as group insurance discounts, discounts at certain stores etc.

I believe the proposed fee hike is unjustified. As a member, I feel that the college does very little for me and no increase is justified.

This is very discouraging and will add to the financial crippling effects of inflation and the measly salary increases received in this profession over the years. After enduring a pandemic and people leaving the profession in droves due to burnout and being forced to work in unsafe working environments, this is another slap in the face. The excessive continuing education requirements needed in our profession each year to be registered with the college, is far more than most other regulated professions in health care at our salary level. This is also an added expense to us in addition to the college and other Canadian association fees and liability insurance we have to pay. With the addition of sonographers to the college since the last increase in 2011, please explain why this has not increased the revenue received by the college and how you can justify an increase rather than a decrease in dues?

This is ridiculous I get you wanna reach goals. But I am a new tech trying to pay off school, and want to buy a house and try an live in todays world increasing this is just going to set us back further in life along with paying our other fees for insurance and the college it’s difficult to even afford to breath

This jump is way too high, we are severely short MRTs and driving the annual fees up in just encouraging MRTs to leave this profession. Nurses pay less for their annual fee. Why should we have to pay over $700 a year (including tax) when we don’t even make as much as them. Increasing our fee is damaging our healthcare system and encouraging people to stay away from this career

Not in support. As an ultrasound tech we were “forced” to joint CMRITO once we were regulated. Increasing the fees with make my CMRITO membership more than double my required Sonography Canada one, and liability insurance is included in the $327 Sonography Canada fee. I find sonography Canada supplies more free education activities and my insurance at a MUCH lower rate.

I am a single person who currently working full time can barely afford my mortgage and food. I have no added luxeries or savings. I have contemplated at tiems using the food bank. I am also a charge tech so I am at the top of the pay scale. Until wages can keep up with inflation I cannot see where increasing the fee will be feasible for me. I will be unable to afford to work. Or I will have to quit eating or stop paying my mortgage and join the homeless encampment downtown. I know to you it seems like a small amount but that amount is large when you are barely getting by as it and have cut back and keep cutting back

This is absolutely ridiculous. What an outrageous increase to our registration fees. I love my career and don't want to do anything else, however, fees like this make it hard to continue in this field. If we are part-time or casual employees, this amount is astronomical and will make affording the cost of living difficult during the month we have to pay our fees. We already pay way more than nurses do for our registration fee, and they get way more incentives. As stated in other comments, how about looking at a redistribution of money? Where will this new money be allocated?

I don't believe this is fair to the members. The cmrito is taking a page out of the liberal governments page . Punish the working class.. shame

I can’t afford that especially when my hourly rate at work hasn’t gone up to reflect that price. I can’t even afford groceries and they want me to pay that increased fee?