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
  • On January 29, 2021, Alberta Health sent the consultation package for the College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta to stakeholders. This is a pivotal step in progress toward regulation.
  • The draft consultation document asked for “post graduate degree”. ACCT gave input requesting ‘diploma’

 

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.
  • Application submitted to Minister Dix on December 7, 2020.
  • Minister Dix responded on February 9, 2021 that the govenment would not consider FACTBC’s application, and says the government will not consider any application while it works to modernize the way health professions are regulated in the province.
  • FACTBC held Lunch and Learn on February 26, 2021 which can be viewed here.  There was much conversation in the chat at this event around master level education.
  • FACTBC’s legal counsel send a letter to Minister Dix on March 2, 2021 stating theat FACTBC disagreed with his position.  

 

Manitoba - Unregulated

 

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.
  • Update 2021 - it is expected they will follow PEI’s example

 

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/
  • Work began 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.
  • College expected to be announced in August 2021 Application design is in the works following Alberta’s example.

 

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.

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