Council highlights for December 4, 2025
The 453rd meeting of the RCDSO Council was held as a virtual meeting and livestreamed on December 4th, 2025. A recording is available on the College’s YouTube channel. Highlights from the meeting follow.
Governance Modernization
In accordance with Council’s direction, the Governance Committee has completed its development of plans to:
- implement the reduction of elected Council dentists from 12 to 10 members;
- move from a district-based to a province-wide election model; and
- introduce staggered terms for elected members of Council.
At the December meeting, Council approved by-law amendments that will implement these proposed governance reforms. For more information please see Governance Modernization at RCDSO. In 2026, the profession will hear more about how these changes impact elections.
Professional Liability Program (PLP) divestment updates
Navacord, one of Canada’s largest and fastest growing multi-line insurance brokerages, will become the owner/operator of the RCDSO’s PLP as of January 1, 2026. In relation to this change, Council passed pre-circulated by-law changes that establish the requirement for minimum professional liability protection of $2 million per occurrence, which is consistent with the coverage currently provided to Ontario dentists (the minimum aggregate limit is $6 million). The by-law change also establishes the mechanism to implement three years of comprehensive coverage, through Navacord/Jones DesLauriers. The RCDSO heard concerns about the changes from 35 individual dentists as well as from the ODA—a summary of its submission was shared with Council.
As of January 1, 2026, claims both new and historical will be handled by the existing staff of the PLP, who will become employees of Navacord. This will ensure that dentists will have the same comprehensive claims experience going forward as they always have. Phone numbers and emails will stay the same so a conversation that ends in December of 2025 can continue seamlessly in January 2026.
Budget 2026
Council approved the 2026 budget plan, as reviewed by the Finance Audit and Risk Committee. The plan included: an investment in strategic projects for the strategic plan; a multi-year forecast with modest surpluses; and detail on the impact of the PLP divestment. The 2026 budget includes an Operating budget with a surplus of $595,000 and a Capital budget of $724,000.
Council Member Update
The newest public appointment to Council, Adal Simeone, was appointed on November 27th, 2025, for a three-year term. Ms. Simeone joined the December Council meeting.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of Council will be held on Thursday, February 19th, 2026 via Zoom. The meeting will also be livestreamed.