Message from the Registrar
We are now days away from the repeal of the Health Professions Act, to be replaced by the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA). As the in-force date of April 1 approaches, here is a reminder of key changes the HPOA will have on how health professions are regulated in BC and how we do our work.
As background, it may be helpful to provide a high-level overview of the overall framework of health professions regulation:
- Government establishes the legislation that governs regulatory colleges and sets the regulations for the health professions. Regulations name the professions that are governed by each health regulatory college, articulate protected title, scopes of practice, restricted activities, and certification requirements.
- As a regulatory college, CHCPBC is responsible for establishing bylaws that are aligned with the legislation, setting standards and policies for eligibility, ethics and practice, and interpreting and enforcing the regulations. Our role is to make sure that the health professionals we regulate have the skills and knowledge needed to provide safe, ethical care. We also address concerns by investigating complaints and taking action when necessary to keep the publics we serve safe.
- The HPOA establishes the independent Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office to oversee the performance of the regulatory colleges. The HPOA prescribes that the disciplinary process will be managed by the Director of Discipline within the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office.
I will highlight two aspects of the HPOA that will be reflected in how CHCPBC does our work of public protection.
Anti-discrimination
The Guiding Principles within the HPOA speak directly to anti-discrimination requirements, and to Indigenous-specific anti-racism and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
The HPOA imposes obligations on licensees to protect the public from harm and discrimination. Licensees are expressly prohibited from discriminating when providing health services, employing staff, and when publishing statements in which they identify their professional status.
The HPOA also requires licensees to take anti-discrimination measures in practising their designated health profession, including to foster physically, culturally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually safe practice. Licensees must adopt anti-racism approaches and tools, treat patients respectfully, and foster meaningful communication that encourages patients to participate in the decisions that affect them.
We recently hosted a webinar “Introduction to the Legal Framework for Human Rights Obligations Under the Health Professions and Occupations Act,” which outlines requirements of licensees with respect to anti-discrimination measures. A recording of the webinar is available.
When thinking about Indigenous-specific anti-racism, I am reminded of the words of Len Pierre of Len Pierre Consulting during the licensee webinar: “We are either perpetuating racism and discrimination by being silent about it, or we are invoking anti-racism into our professional practices, policies and physical sites.” These are powerful words to reflect on for both licensees and for us at the College — as under the Act, colleges are obligated to not only take but also promote anti-discrimination measures, including adopting anti-racism approaches and tools to support them.
As colleges we are further held to obligations to support and promote awareness of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and of the need to address racism and anti-racism issues that are specific to Indigenous peoples, including acknowledging the rights, interests, priorities and concerns that are specific to First Nations peoples, Métis peoples and Inuit peoples, based on distinctions among them.
Support programs
The HPOA requires the regulatory colleges to establish and administer a Support Program that has three components:
- Information services: about the complaints process, people’s rights under the HPOA, and the investigation and discipline process.
- Support services: For counselling and culturally safe providers for those who allege sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, or discrimination committed by a licensee.
- Support workers: to provide the information above, accompany people to proceedings, and provide recommendations to those involved in the process about how to minimize trauma, remove barriers, and advance meaningful participation.
We have secured a vendor to provide support services and are collaborating with our peer regulatory colleges to provide consistent information about these new programs to patients and the public.
Preparing to regulate a 10th profession
When the Ministry of Health announced the regulations for the HPOA, it included the regulation of psychotherapy by CHCPBC beginning in late November 2027.
We are in the early stages of the project to onboard psychotherapists to our college. Conversations are underway with the associations that represent this profession, and which have been waiting for the opportunity to become regulated.
Building public trust and confidence: our new strategic plan
Implementing the HPOA has – and will continue to be – a major focus, but we are already looking beyond that. I am pleased to share that CHCPBC’s first strategic plan is now available.
The plan features original artwork “Dawn Awaits” by Stz’uminus First Nation artist Dan Elliott, beautifully capturing our theme “All Aboard Our Canoe.” The piece symbolizes diverse people coming together to launch the canoe, reflecting where we are and where we’re headed as an organization.
As healthcare and regulatory systems rapidly evolve, this strategic plan commits us to delivering core regulatory services while recognizing the distinct histories and contexts of each profession we oversee. We’re ready to meet the public’s rightful expectations for competence and accountability in health services.
You can read my overview of the strategic plan or go to the full strategic plan (PDF).
All told, we at CHCPBC have ambitious goals for 2026. Progress over perfection continues to guide us, and as always, we welcome your feedback on our work.
Dianne Millette
Registrar & CEO
