Corporate Governance

“Corporate Governance” describes the structure and processes by which an organization is directed, controlled and held to account. It addresses the Board of Directors and the role the Board plays in ensuring the organization’s short and long-term success consistent with its mandate and mission.

The Governance policies and practices of the Provincial Health Services Authority are compliant with the Governance and Disclosure Guidelines for Governing Boards of British Columbia Public Sector Organizations (Best practice Guidelines) February 2005 issued by the Board Resourcing and Development Office (BRDO), Office of the Premier of British Columbia.

Public sector organizations are unique and must evolve governance practices appropriate to their particular circumstances. It is expected, nevertheless, that they will meet the standards and expectations set out in the Best Practice Guidelines to ensure continuing excellence in the governance of public assets and accountability to their stakeholders. The expectation of the Government of British Columbia is that individual organizations will report on their governance practices as soon as possible and that all public sector entities will be in a position to meet the disclosure standards set out in the Best Practice Guidelines commencing with the first annual report or service plan filed after April 2006.

PHSA Compliance with Best Practice Guidelines

The information found on this page and other areas of the PHSA website, is made available as part of our efforts to ensure excellence in governance and accountability.

Constitution and Bylaws

PHSA Constitution & Bylaws

PHSA Constitution and Bylaws outline how the PHSA is constituted under the BC Society Act. (For a copy of the Society Act, visit the BC
government's Web site: www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/)

Terms of Reference

The PHSA Board of Directors approved Terms of Reference to govern the committees of the Board. These Terms of Reference confirm the PHSA Board's commitment to leading practices.

• Terms of Reference - President and CEO
• Terms of Reference - Board Chair
• Terms of Reference - Director
• Terms of Reference - Audit Committee
• Terms of Reference - Finance Committee
• Terms of Reference - Governance and Human Resources Committee
• Terms of Reference - Quality and Access Committee
• Terms of Reference - Secretary to the Board
• Terms of Reference - PHSA Board of Directors Research Committee
• Terms of Reference - Board of Directors
• PHSA Board of Directors Research Committee

Guidelines and Policies

• Adverse Event and Incident Management
• Auditor Independence Policy
• Banking Policy
• Board Compensation & Expense Policy
• Board Policy Framework Policy
• Board Record Retention Policy
• Board Operating Guidelines
• Borrowing Policy
• Board Committee and Chair Evaluation Process Policy
• Capital Asset Governance
• Code of Conduct & Conflict of Interest Guidelines for Directors
• Commitment to a Culture of Patient Safety
• Committee Guidelines
• Critical Patient Safety Event Review
• Disclosure of Adverse Events
• Financial Signing Authority – Board and CEO
• Human resource policies-Standards of Business Conduct
• Investment Management Policy
• Loans to Member Agencies Policy
• Long Term Board Renewal Plan 
• Non-Punitive Reporting: Hazards, Injuries, Harm, Adverse Events, and Near Misses
• Performance Evaluation Process - President & CEO
• PHSA Board Meetings
• Release of Patient Client Information to the Media and Public
• Research Conflict of Interest Policy 
• “Stop the Line”: Authority to Intervene to Ensure Patient Safety