Machinations by CPA Leadership to Disempower Sections and BIPOC Representation
Changes are sparked by a vigorous debate between leadership and racialized psychologists
“The proposed By-law revisions are administrative in nature to help the CPA best meet the needs of its membership and achieve best practice in governance,” stated CEO Lisa Votta-Bleeker.
Shifting the Balance of Power
At the heart of the debate is how the proposed by-laws would redefine the role and autonomy of the CPA Sections—a potential vehicle for diversifying organizational leadership. Here’s a breakdown of the key proposed changes.
According to Monnica Williams, PhD, Canada Research Chair for Mental Health Innovation and Equity, “These changes are happening as retaliation for racialized Sections demanding greater representation in the organization.”
A New Framework for Section Governance
The most substantial amendments are concentrated in Sec. 8 of the by-laws, which dictates how Sections operate.
- New Disciplinary Authority for the Board: A proposed addition would grant the CPA Board the singular authority to “remove and replace the members of the Section executive” if a Section is found to be in breach of “Governance Policies” (Sec. 8.03). Currently, the Board’s primary recourse is to dissolve a Section entirely. Observers note that since the Board itself authors the Governance Policies, this new clause would give it absolute power to intervene in the elected leadership of any Section it deems non-compliant.
- Control Over Public Communications: Another amendment would require Sections to obtain “express written consent of the Board” before issuing any “public statements, issue position papers or policy statements” (Sec. 8.05c). Critics suggest this could limit the ability of Sections—particularly those representing marginalized groups—to speak independently on issues of importance to their members, such as systemic racism or barriers to care, thereby centralizing the association’s public voice under the Board’s control.
- Removal of Explicitly Stated Powers: The original by-law (Sec 8.09) that formally outlined the powers of Sections to “initiate and undertake activities” and “draft position papers” has been entirely struck out. Removing the explicit by-law language could be interpreted as transforming them from semi-autonomous bodies into subordinate committees operating at the Board’s discretion.
Changes to Broader Association Oversight
Beyond the Sections, other proposed changes adjust the distribution of authority within the CPA:
- Delegation of Rule-Making to the CEO: A new clause allows the Board to delegate the “development and implementation of section operating regulations to the Chief Executive Officer” (Sec 8.01). This shifts some rule-making authority from the elected Board to a non-elected staff member.
- Expansion of Disciplinary Grounds: An amendment broadens the grounds for disciplining members to include violations of not just by-laws but also “other policies and regulations” of the association, which can be created and modified more easily by the Board (Sec 3.06a).
- Clarification of Board Leadership Roles: A new phrase codifies that the powerful President and Immediate Past-President positions fall under the “Director-at-large” category, which has no specific representational requirements (e.g., scientist, practitioner, Section leader). This reinforces a structure where top leadership can be filled without a specific diversity mandate (Sec 5.03c).
According to clinician Kafui Sawyer, founder of the CPA’s Black Psychology Section: “Efforts to centralize power and suppress the voices of its constituent Sections, particularly those representing Black, Indigenous, and Asian people, reflect a continuation of structural inequities rooted in over 400 years of anti-Black oppression perpetuated by predominantly White institutions. It is profoundly disheartening that in 2025, we are still confronting such epistemic violence within our national psychological association, where the knowledge, experiences, and leadership of racialized communities are devalued or suppressed under the guise of administrative reform.”
The Communication and Approval Process
In its communication to members, the CPA has described the vote as “an important opportunity for the membership to participate in a process that ensures best practice in governance.” The association is holding a virtual Town Hall for members to ask questions about the proposed revisions on November 13 at 1 p.m. EST. Members can put forth queries directly to the CPA’s President, Dr. Steven Smith, and Dr. Votta-Bleeker, but it is unclear if they will be accepting comments or feedback from members.
The approval process for the changes is a special resolution, which requires a two-thirds majority of those members present to vote. According to the notice, the quorum for the meeting is defined as 25 members, a relatively low threshold for a national organization. The vote will occur on December 11 at 1 p.m.
The debate over these by-laws highlights a fundamental tension present in many professional organizations: the balance between streamlined, unitary, centralized governance and the autonomy and freedom needed for specialized member groups to thrive. Undoubtedly, the outcome of the December vote will shape the internal power dynamics of the CPA for years to come.
Learn More
Canadian Psychological Association. (2025). By-law No. 1 [Proposed revisions, October 2025].
Faber, S. C., Cenat, J. M., Sawyer, K., Metzger, I. W., Shaughnessy, K., Madsen, J., MacIntyre, M. M., Goghari, V. M., Ansloos, J., & Williams, M. T. (in press). Opening the gate: A call for inclusion and representation of peoples of colour in Canadian professional psychology. Canadian Psychology. [Preprint]
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