Honourable senators, I rise today to knowledge the importance of the Medical Council of Canada in ensuring the highest level of medical care by maintaining excellence in physician assessment in Canada.

Pre-Confederation Canada was riddled with an unregulated medical system, with quackery and pseudo-scientific practices very much a part of the landscape.

In 1912, legislation was passed to create high standards and a uniform assessment process for practising physicians. This led to the formation of the Medical Council of Canada, spearheaded by the late Dr. Sir Thomas Roddick.

Today, in addition to assessing every medical school graduate, the council is also responsible for assessing international medical graduates seeking to practise in Canada. Having been on both sides of this coin, I can emphasize the importance and validity of this process.

The council maintains a complete record of all practising doctors of medicine, or MDs; streamlines and simplifies the assessment process; and collaborates with partners to maintain current knowledge, best practices and procedures. There is a focus on ensuring the rigorous and advanced methods of physician assessment, and maintaining a close relationship with medical regulators, educators and allied health groups.

The council continues to adapt to the rapid advancements in digital technologies and pharmacotherapeutics, ensuring excellence in maintaining an assessment process that is current, state of the art and relevant to clinical practice.

The Medical Council of Canada works diligently to adhere to the principles of diversity, inclusion and equity, and has ongoing thoughtful dialogue with Indigenous and Black physicians’ groups to ensure that systemic racism is addressed and that the path toward reconciliation continues seamlessly. This priority is further applied in the council’s staffing and committee priorities.

One of the key advances of the council has been the establishment of the National Assessment Collaboration — an alliance of Canadian organizations streamlining the process for international medical graduates seeking licensure in our country. A broad coalition of medical organizations works in tandem nationally to advance the assessment of international graduates seeking practice.

I have previously worked very closely on this file, and was delighted to see the stringent adherence to transparency within this process. Volunteer physicians from across the country work with the executive to ensure that various initiatives and exam processes are conducted in a fair manner.

My sincere gratitude goes out to Dr. Ian Bowmer, the previous CEO and executive director of the council, for his untiring efforts in advancing the work of the council.

I would like to acknowledge today the hard work and dedication of Dr. Maureen Topps, who is our guest today. She will complete her term in this position at the end of the year.

Thank you for your invaluable contributions in maintaining the necessary, high-calibre assessments of physicians, and introducing the MCC 360 feedback program, which has provided constructive insight into the behaviours, perceptions and experiences of patients and professionals alike.

Meegwetch. Thank you.