We Need Lower Fees

I strongly suggest CONO review their expenses and streamline.

This deters me from coming back to practice in Ontario as planned. If CONO is supposed to act in the public interest, CONO is not doing so when NDs are leaving Ontario, changing careers because fees are so high, and struggling financially. Please take some time to seriously reconsider how our fees can be substantially lowered in the interest of NDs, CONO and the public.

Recent graduates pay for NABNE and CONO board exams then for preregistration/registration fees, Insurance and finally Prescription textbook and the prescription course, then register for prescription exam this is a total of $4500 in less than 6 months upon finishing the License exams!!

It is unethical to raise fees too high, too fast and without reasonable explanation/fee breakdown to the members of the association to whom you are responsible for. If it weren't for the members, the association wouldn't exist.

As a practitioner who has not been in practice for very long, this jump in cost is way too high for me. I'm still struggling to make enough money to cover all my expenses for business and keeping a roof over my head. At the very least a more gradual increase would be helpful in allowing me to still be able to afford to practice.

I originally held an inactive membership since 2009 (when I moved to Alberta and began practising). I believe I was paying $250 a year. My opinion at the time that this was a small fee to not only hold a spot for myself if I ever decided to comeback to Ontario but also, I felt good in contributing a "reasonable" fee to help support my profession. Since CONO, that fee has jumped up over 300% for an inactive member (as in, you just need to keep my file on record). I don't get it so I'm assuming CONO doesn't "get it". As a ND in Ontario, you now have lost a lot of those inactive members support, thousands of dollars in lost revenue for simply maintaining/storing an inactive members' file.

These fees are absolutely absurd!!

I am wondering if I can continue working as an ND in ON. I am trying hard to build my practice, but I do not make enough to cover my living expenses. I've had to cash in RRSPs this past year just to keep myself housed and fed. $1700 is a huge burden, especially considering that I now have a narrower scope of practice than I did last year at this time.

This will also be my last year in this profession. The fees are just too high when struggling in a business. It's fees similar to an MD's professional dues, but without the MD pay. I really think CONO has a misconception on how much NDs make or hasn't even considered it.

In the least, fees should be increased gradually. In addition, there should be breaks for naturopaths in their first 5 years.

I think this is unreasonable, especially for new graduates and those with student debt. This should be strongly reconsidered.

Please spend less money on expensive lawyers and more money on reasonable mediators.

I am with my colleagues in the concept of a sliding scale, and a prorate for new registrants under 5 years practice, as it takes time and effort to become established. I also feel it would be of value to understand the cost differences from the BDDTN to CONO which resulted in a doubling of yearly fees. Thank you for your consideration.

Please strongly consider alternatives to this increase in fees - sliding scale based off income or cost saving measures elsewhere. Newly licensed NDs like myself cannot afford to pay these fees, and in many cases cannot go further into debt to maintain their license, which is a huge detriment to public access to naturopathic care.

This increase will force many qualified NDs to leave or consider leaving the profession. The impact will not only affect us but also the people who rely on our services for their health and wellbeing. The increase is not sustainable and unjustified and the thought alone is distressing. With the growing number of NDs entering the field each year, should the prices not decrease?

Naturopaths are an essential service to those of us who want to be treated naturally or explore the root causes of illness or other issues. Many people pay out of pocket for these services and they need to be made affordable so that we can continue to take charge of our health!

The difference pre and post CONO fees is huge. It is creating a financial struggle for a lot of naturopaths - and not only recent graduates. We don't need to have this exorbitant fees to maintain the College and keep our profession moving forward.

Cannot afford this profession anymore because of the constant price raises and hardship. It is very sad to know Ontario is losing many amazing ND's because they just cannot financially survive to be in this profession.

I am not able as a new graduate to pay the high fees of license renewal as suggested by CONO and suggest to reduce it .

As a minimum, there should be a sliding scale for new grads and/or those that have been practicing for less than 1-5 years.