Regulation Across Canada

Task Force Updates by Province:

Alberta - Regulation in Process 

• https://www.fact-alberta.org/
• Formed FACT-Alberta.
• Application submitted to Ministry of Health in September 2016
• Revised application submitted in July 2017
• Workbook submitted to Ministry of Health in July 2017
• Stakeholder consultation occurred in August 2018.
• The government is considering legislation in the Fall of 2018 or the Spring of 2019.
• On December 11, 2018, Bill 30, The Mental Health Services Protection Act, was passed. As a result, the professions of Counselling Therapy, Addictions Counselling and Child and Youth Care Counselling were officially included in the Health Professions Act (HPA). A new College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (CCTA) will be formed to provide oversight and accountability and protect the public when receiving mental health and addiction services.
• The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (ACTA) was formed and they released a major update on their progress towards regulation in March 2019. To read the regulation update in full please click on the image below.
• Expedited Route Application Announcement, applications can be submitted as of August 29, 2019

British Columbia - Unregulated

• https://www.factbc.org/
• Formed FACT-BC
• Continues to have ongoing discussions with the provincial government.
• Currently no indication of when regulation may occur.
• Extensive lobbying with MLAs to be undertaken.

Manitoba - Unregulated

• http://www.fact-manitoba.org/
• Formed FACT-Manitoba.
• The application is being reviewed by the Steering Committee.

New Brunswick Regulated

• http://cctnb.ca/
• Proclamation occurred on June 1, 2017.
• Type of regulation - Title Protection.
• There are several protected titles, such as Licensed Counselling Therapist,  Licensed Career Counsellor, Registered Career Counsellor, Registered Counselling Therapist.

Newfoundland and Labrador - Unregulated

• http://www.fact-nl.org/
• Formed FACT-NL.
• Application reviewed by the Steering Committee and submitted to the NL Ministry of Health on April 20, 2018.

Nova Scotia - Regulated

• https://nscct.ca/
• Proclamation on October 11, 2011.
• Type of regulation - Title Protection.
• Protected title - Counselling Therapist.

Ontario - Regulated

• https://www.crpo.ca/
• Ontario proclamation occurred on April 1, 2015.
• The Controlled Act was proclaimed on December 21, 2017. There will be a two year transition period starting December 31, 2017.
• CRPO has been mandated by the Minister of Health to provide additional clarification of the Controlled Act. This clarification was delivered to the government in June 2018.
• The Ontario college continues to participate in the process as part of the government’s advisory committee.
• The Protected Act of Psychotherapy in Ontario took effect on Jan 1, 2020.

Prince Edward Island - Unregulated

• http://peica.org/
• The latest information from the government contact is that work will begin on the regulation file in the latter part of 2018.
• They have been encouraged to work on standards of practice and code of ethics by the government contact.

Quebec - Regulated

• https://www.ordrepsy.qc.ca/accueil
• Statutory regulation of the profession for over fifty years and has recently also enforced regulation of psychotherapy as a protected act and psychotherapist as a protected title.

Saskatchewan - Unregulated

• http://www.fact-sk.org/
• Formed FACT-SK.
• The application is being reviewed by the Steering Committee.
• July 2018 applied to the Government of Saskatchewan requesting that the profession of counselling therapy be regulated.
• It is anticipated that the new college would be named the College of Counselling Therapists of Saskatchewan.
• September 2018 a reply stated that there is no rationale at this time to consider possible regulation of any of the occupations referenced in the document.
• December 2018 the Minister of Rural Health, Greg Ottenbreit requested documentation about the legislation that has been created in other provinces.
• March 2019 with Minister Ottenbreit, he is willing to reconnect with the Ministry of Health about the application.
• The application was re-submitted with the additional responses to the concerns expressed. Reply expected in July 2019.
• The re-submitted application was received but more information was required despite FACT-SK doing their utmost to address all the issues raised.
• FACT-SK is working on the next steps which involve meetings with politicians to explain the importance of a College of Counselling Therapists for the province of SK. 
• A phone conference has been scheduled in the first week of February 2020, to discuss the next steps.

Territories - Unregulated

• No activity.