Ontario Closer to Paramedic Self-Regulation?

Late last week the Ontario Paramedic Association (OPA) issued a press release in response to a letter from Ontario's Health Minister to the provincial Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC). HPRAC provides policy advice to the Ontario Health Minister on matters related to the regulation of health professions in that province, including advise on whether or not health professions should be regulated and amendments to the Regulated Health Professions Act.

In his correspondence, Ontario Health Minister Smitherman asked HPRAC to "advise whether paramedics and emergency medical attendants should be regulated under the Health Professions Act, and if so, what would be the appropriate scope of practice, controlled acts and titles authorized to the profession." The Health Professions Act provides direction for regulating health professions in Ontario, including the responsibilities of each professional regulatory college.

Although the reply time frame associated with this request is unclear, and may well take the better part of a year to obtain, the fact that Ontario's Health Minister has raised this issue with his advisory council has bolstered the spirits of the OPA. In the press release issued by OPA President Mary Osinga the Minister's request is applauded and called a "bold step forward for Ontario's Paramedics". If Ontario moves in the direction of paramedic self-regulation they will join the ranks of a number of other Canadian jurisdictions that have recognized the importance of such a move...Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

The Manitoba Government is currently reviewing the legislation of it's health professions. The Health Professions Regulatory Reform Initiative (HPRRI) is currently studying "umbrella legislation" options that would replace existing regulatory Acts in our province. I anticipate this umbrella legislation will define health professions and outline a common framework for all regulatory Colleges to follow in regard to administrative practices and complaint and discplinary processes. As such the Paramedic Association considers it imperative that we work to ensure our profession is recognized as a health profession within this legislation to set the stage for paramedic self-regulation in Manitoba.

PAM had requested to participate in the review initiative with Manitoba's other regulated health professions, however we were denied any official status in the process because we are not a regulatory body. But we were assured that we'd be kept abreast of it's progress, and just this week I received correspondence stating that both regulated and non-regulated professions should have access to a discussion paper on this subject in the near future. If need be we too will be asking our Health Minister to ensure paramedics are recognized as health professionals. Hopefully Manitoba will also find itself one step closer to paramedic self regulation through this process.

OPA News Release - Ontario Paramedic Self-Regulation being considered by HPRAC

Health Professions Regulatory Reform Initiative (HPRRI)