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.