What is my role and responsibility in the match violations process?

Everyone involved in the match has an important role to play in the match violations process.

Match participants
All applicants and faculties participating in a CaRMS match are expected to fulfill the responsibilities and obligations outlined in their respective match contracts and conduct themselves in a professional, ethical, and responsible manner. Match participants are also expected to report violations they experience to help keep the match process safe and fair for everyone. 

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)
The AFMC is the academic partnership of Canada’s Faculties of Medicine. The AFMC acts as the agent for the Faculties and will represent them for all purposes related to the services provided in the CaRMS-AFMC contract. The AFMC is responsible for ensuring faculty match participants are informed of their match obligations.

Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)
CaRMS is an independent, arms-length provider of a client-centred, fair, transparent, and equitable application and matching service for the review and confidential ranking of applicants to one or more residency programs operated by the Canadian faculties of medicine. CaRMS maintains the Match Violations Policy and makes sure it is  available to all match participants.

CaRMS Board of Directors
CaRMS is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The CaRMS Board is responsible for the ongoing management of the Violations Review Committee. It is also responsible for nominating the independent Chair of the Joint CaRMS Match Violations Policy Review Committee and receiving reports from the Committee Chair as required.

Joint CaRMS Match Violations Policy Review Committee (Joint Committee)
The Joint Committee is responsible for developing the CaRMS Match Violations Policy. Members of the Joint Committee include representatives from learner organizations—the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS), Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ), Resident Doctors of Canada (RDoC), and Fédération des médecins résidents du Québec (FMRQ)— as well as AFMC, and CaRMS. The Joint Committee provides input and direction to the Violations Review Committee through their oversight of the Match Violations Policy used by the Violations Review Committee in their governance over violations reported to CaRMS.

Violations Review Committee (VRC)
CaRMS’ VRC, composed of the CaRMS Board’s Executive Committee, will investigate and adjudicate reported violations alleged to be contrary to the fair and proper operation of the Application and Matching Program in accordance with the MVP developed by the Joint Committee. The VRC includes learner and faculty representation to ensure all match participants’ points of view are represented in the adjudication process.