Policy Monitor Canada » Professional Self Regulation

Yukon Consults on Three Acts

Admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:37:50 +0000

Public Input Invited on Proposed Changes to Three Yukon Acts Important to Businesses, Societies & Cooperative Associations

Highlights of the proposed changes include updating business naming provisions, creating limited liability partnerships, adding registration procedures for societies incorporated outside of Yukon and clarifying registration procedures for cooperatives incorporated outside of Yukon.

Together with the Securities Transfer Act and proposed changes to the Business Corporations Act, these proposed amendments will provide Yukon with modern legislation that will better serve Yukon citizens and the organizations governed by business-related legislation.

To view the existing acts, plain language guides and the draft legislation, please see below.

1. The Partnership and Business Names Act governs partnerships and regulates the use of business names in Yukon.

Plain Language Guide to the Proposed Changes

Draft Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Names Act

2. The Societies Act governs “not for profit” organizations in Yukon.

Plain Language Guide to the Proposed Changes

Draft Act to Amend the Societies Act

3. The Cooperative Associations Act governs cooperative associations in Yukon.

Plain Language Guide to the Proposed Changes

Draft Act to Amend the Cooperative Associations Act

To submit comments, please contact Fred Pretorius, Director of Corporate Affairs at Community Services by email: corporateaffairs@gov.yk.ca, Fax: 867-393-6251 or phone: 667-5223, or toll free in Yukon at 1-800-661-0408 ext. 5223

Written comments are invited until August 13, 2010

NFLD Consults on Private Training

Admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:43:09 +0000

Consultations Occurring on Private Training Legislation

The Provincial Government is inviting input from current students and graduates of private training institutions on the Private Training Institutions Act and Regulations, with a series of public sessions scheduled for July. The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, provided details on the consultations today, as part of a review to ensure that the legislation is current, relevant and effective. In addition to consultations with students and graduates, consultations are occurring through meetings with other stakeholders including private training institutions, funding agencies and professionals licensing bodies.

“We want to ensure that the legislation for the private college sector allows for progress in the industry, while supporting quality programs and an appropriate level of protection for students’ investments,” said Minister King. “Our government is taking this proactive step in reviewing the legislation to ensure it meets these needs.”

As the review relies on the input of those who have experience with private training institutions, four consultation sessions will be held in regions of the province where private training institutions currently exist. The schedule is as follows:

St. John’s (Capital Hotel): July 20, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Marystown (Marystown Hotel): July 21, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Grand Falls-Windsor (Mount Peyton Hotel): July 27, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Corner Brook (Greenwood Inn): July 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Any current students or graduates of private training institutions are encouraged to attend a consultation session. To register for a session, individuals can contact the Department of Education at , toll-free at 1-877-771-3737, or via e-mail: jenniferlear@gov.nl.ca. Alternatively, input can be provided via e-mail by visiting www.gov.nl.ca/edu.

“Input from those who have been educated through private training institutions is vital to this review process,” said Minister King. “We encourage current and past students to provide input during the consultations to ensure an effective Act.”

The consultations will invite feedback on areas such as registration of new institutions, monitoring, student protection as well as program and instructor approvals.

The current Private Training Institutions Act and Regulations can be accessed via the following link: www.assembly.nl.ca/legislation/sr/statutes/p25.htm

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Media contact:
Tara Power
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 727-5953
tarapower@gov.nl.ca

NFLD Pharmacists Changes

Admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:58:50 +0000

Health and Community Services
June 23, 2010

New Authority for Pharmacists to Improve Patient Access

Recent changes to the pharmacy regulations and new standards of pharmacy practice adopted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board will broaden the ability of pharmacists to provide prescription medications to better serve patients in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, made the announcement today. Pharmacists may now refill, extend or adjust prescriptions, in accordance with the board’s standards of practice.

“These new regulations will allow the people of Newfoundland and Labrador to get the medicines they need from participating pharmacies even if they can’t get to their doctor right away,” said Minister Kennedy. “By more completely using the competencies of pharmacists, the regulations will improve access and create efficiencies in the healthcare system.”

The changes will allow, with the patient’s consent, a pharmacist to refill or modify a prescription. For example, a pharmacist may change a prescription from a tablet to a liquid that may be easier for a patient to swallow. A pharmacist may now use his or her judgment to provide an emergency supply of medication, extend expired prescriptions for limited periods and make minor changes to prescriptions to avoid delays dispensing them to patients. When extending a prescription or making any change to a prescription, the pharmacist must notify the original prescriber. While the standards are now in effect, pharmacists are required to educate themselves fully on the standards and submit a declaration form to the Pharmacy Board before providing these services to patients.

“Pharmacists are the experts in drug therapy and they have always used their knowledge and skills to select and provide appropriate medication to their patients, but in a limited manner,” said Keith Bailey, Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board. “This regulation will allow pharmacists to more fully utilize their medication management expertise in the interest of the health and well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. This is an excellent example of how collaboration among health professionals can better serve the needs of patients without compromising safety.”

Standards of pharmacy practice adopted by the board spell out the limits and conditions under which pharmacists can exercise their professional judgement with respect to medication management. These standards have been developed in consultation with the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, the Association of Registered Nurses, the Pharmacists’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Department of Health and Community Services.

NFLD Health Professions Act

Admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:48:46 +0000

New Legislation to Focus on Regulation of Certain Health Professions

Health and Community Services
June 18, 2010

New legislation passed through the House of Assembly this week will improve public protection and patient safety by providing for the regulation of a number of health professions, including many that are not currently regulated. The Health Professions Act will establish an umbrella model of governance that brings a number of professions together with shared accountability for professional regulation while maintaining their own identities.

“Our government is committed to providing quality, reliable and safe access to health care throughout the province,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. “The new legislation will provide professional regulation that will ensure protection of the public through the establishment of consistent licensing, quality assurance and discipline processes. Under this new legislation, medical laboratory technologists, acupuncturists, audiologists, dental hygienists, midwives, respiratory therapists, and speech language pathologists will now be regulated.”

Consultations with those professions seeking regulation, aboriginal groups, women’s organizations, other jurisdictions and the Regional Health Authorities were held between November 2009 and January 2010. These consultations guided the drafting of the act and there was significant support expressed for the model of regulation proposed.

Minister Kennedy noted that the regulation of medical laboratory technologists, one of the professions included under the legislation, is consistent with the recommendations contained within the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing Report, written by Justice Margaret Cameron.

“Our government continues to look at health regulation from a new and different perspective – one that focuses on transparency of the professions, accountability to the public and development of quality assurance programs,” said Minister Kennedy. “This new legislation responds to the concerns of a variety of health disciplines with respect to regulation, as well as addresses the regulation of medical laboratory technologists as recommended by Justice Cameron.”

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Media contact:
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-2646
TansyMundon@gov.nl.ca

Input Sought on Nova Scotia Private Security Regulations

Admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 03:59:33 +0000

May 21, 2010 2:16 PM

Nova Scotians have an opportunity to provide input on regulations for the Security and Investigative Services Act, which was recently passed by government.

“Input is not only valuable, it is necessary for ensuring that we get these regulations right,” said Justice Minister Ross Landry. “Right for Nova Scotia businesses and right for public safety.”

These are the first significant legislative changes governing the security industry in 35 years.

It will implement mandatory training standards, and expand coverage to include licensing of bouncers, bodyguards, Canadian Corps of Commissionaires and in-house security guards and private investigators who interact with the public.

The new legislation will increase public trust and confidence in the security industry by ensuring those involved are suitable, properly trained, and have a code of conduct.

People are encouraged to comment on all aspects of the proposed regulations, including uniforms, vehicles, equipment, training, and code of conduct.

The private security legislation will bring Nova Scotia in line with other Canadian provinces with similar legislation, such as British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

To read the consultation document and submit feedback online visit www.gov.ns.ca/just . You can also send comments to secprog@gov.ns.ca or Security Programs Office, Department of Justice, P.O. Box 7, Halifax, N.S, B3J 2L6. Fax to 902-424-4308.

The deadline for submissions is June 18.

Nova Scotia Proposed Changes to Mortgage Brokers, Lenders Registration Act

Admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:12:58 +0000

May 11, 2010 10:26 AM

The province is seeking feedback to update mortgage brokers and lenders legislation to enhance consumer protection.

A discussion paper and on-line consumer survey were released today, May 11, to encourage input from industry and consumers.

“We are updating legislation so that we can have clearer, more modern industry guidelines for mortgage brokers and lenders in Nova Scotia,” said Ramona Jennex, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. “These guidelines will help us enhance consumer protection measures to help make life better for families across the province.”

The discussion paper and response booklet will be mailed to industry members. The discussion paper and a consumer survey are available on-line at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/consumer .

The deadline for comment is June 15.

The consultations are part of a broader review of the act, which will help determine if changes are required.

Industry statistics indicate a growing number of Canadian mortgage shoppers are consulting or dealing with mortgage brokers. In 2007, 40 per cent of mortgage shoppers consulted a broker and more than one-third of new mortgages were arranged through one.

Amendments Introduced to Nova Scotia Legal Profession Act

Admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 12:46:11 +0000

Amendments to the Legal Profession Act introduced today, May 4, will clarify and modernize this law.

The proposed amendments, based on recommendations from the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, will improve the five-year-old law.

The changes will allow the society to be more pro-active if a lawyer is experiencing capacity issues that may affect client service. It also aligns the legislation with that of some other professions that govern their members.

“During the past few years, the barristers’ society has looked at the legislation and are putting forward a model similar to some other professions,” said Justice Minister Ross Landry. “We respect and support the barrister’s society’s recommendations.”

Yukon Considers Regulation of Midwives

Admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:26:43 +0000

Midwifery Public Consultation Paper

The Department of Health & Social Services is undertaking a public
consultation to determine whether to regulate the practice of
midwifery under the Yukon Health Professions Act.
This paper is divided into four sections:
1. Midwifery practice;
2. Understanding health profession regulation;
3. Weighing the Options; and
4. Individual/ group comments
It is important to acknowledge that midwifery practice has existed
throughout the world for millennia. Furthermore, midwifery currently
exists in both a traditional sphere and as part of the modern health
care systems, providing maternal and newborn support to women in
Canada and internationally. This consultation and discussion is
focused on the role of a midwife as a health care provider in Yukon.
This paper provides an overview of the issues specific to midwifery to
assist public comment on whether it should be regulated. The
consultation and supporting documents do not address details
pertaining to the specific content of regulation nor do they address
the issue of funding midwifery services as part of the Yukon Health
Care plan.
Written comments can be sent to the following address by Friday April 30, 2010:

Department of Health and Social Services (H-1)
Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
Email diane.billingsley@gov.yk.ca
Telephone (867) 456-6746

Nova Scotia Pharmacists Powers Expanded

Admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:14:03 +0000

Pharmacists to Order Diagnostic Tests, Administer Vaccinations …

Amendments announced to the Pharmacy Act today, March 29, will lead to an expanded role for pharmacists, helping Nova Scotians to access care and improving efficiency in the health care system.

The amendments will enable pharmacists to order and interpret lab tests to monitor drug therapy.

“Allowing pharmacists to order and interpret certain diagnostic tests will enable a patient’s medication to be adjusted without having them return to their doctor,” said Health Minister Maureen MacDonald.

“This is good for patients and creates efficiencies in the health care system,” said Ms. MacDonald.

The amendments will also authorize pharmacists to administer drugs, including vaccines.

“One of the key ways to improve vaccine coverage rates, especially in adults, is to increase the number and type of health care professionals who can safely provide vaccines,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief public health officer.

The amendments will enable community pharmacies to act as possible locations for vaccine clinics, if a mass immunization was required.

Once the amendments are passed, regulations will be developed. The Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists will work on these regulations in consultation with government as well as doctors, nurses and dentists.

“The proposed amendments will allow pharmacists to more completely use their training and skills to benefit the public,” said Susan Wedlake, registrar of the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists.

The proposed amendments, which are supported by the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia, also update the registration/licensing provisions of the current legislation to satisfy requirements of Nova Scotia’s Fair Registration Practices Act.

B.C. MODERNIZES REGULATIONS FOR SALE OF EYEWEAR

Admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:49:06 +0000

VICTORIA – The Province introduced a series of changes today that will modernize the way in which British Columbians get their glasses and contact lenses, and give them more choice, announced Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon.

“After lengthy consultation on some of these issues, and a recent court decision that caused us to take a broader look at all the existing regulations, now is the time to take action,” said Falcon. “With advances in technology and more consumers turning to the Internet, it makes sense to modernize a decades-old system to give British Columbians more choice while maintaining public safety.”

The Province is giving six weeks’ notice that effective May 1, 2010, changes will be made to the regulations for opticians and optometrists under the Health Professions Act, including:
· Removal of most of the restrictions that allow only opticians or optometrists, or workers supervised by them, to dispense glasses or contacts.
· Allowing prescriptions issued by medical doctors and optometrists outside of the province to be filled within B.C.
· Allowing people to order glasses or contacts online without having to give the seller a copy of their prescription, sight-test assessment or contact-lens specifications.
· Requiring opticians and optometrists in B.C. to include in a prescription or sight-test assessment the measurement of distance between the client’s pupils, which is required for the proper fitting of glasses.
· Requiring opticians and optometrists in B.C. to give clients, free of charge, a copy of their prescription, sight-test assessment or contact-lens specifications – whether or not it is requested by the client – and also to give a copy, free of charge, to a third-party eyewear seller or other person if requested by the client.

The initial fitting of contacts to determine the lens specifications will still be done only by an optician, optometrist or medical doctor, or workers supervised by them, using information contained in a prescription or sight-test assessment.

Also taking effect on May 1 is a change to optician sight-testing. Opticians will now be able to independently conduct sight-tests for healthy clients aged 19-65. This eliminates the extra step of having a sight-test reviewed by a medical doctor who then issues a prescription. Instead, a screening process will be put in place to ensure a client is healthy enough to be eligible for the sight-test, and is fully informed about the difference between a sight-test and an eye-health examination.

The screening process will also require the optician to refer a client to a medical doctor or optometrist if the client has a specified pre-existing condition or if certain test results occur. Regular eye-health examinations will still be recommended for all British Columbians, who should consult a medical doctor or optometrist about how often they should have an eye-health examination.

An October 2009 decision by the B.C. Court of Appeal found that Coastal Contacts, a B.C.-based online eyewear seller with approximately 120 employees, is contravening the regulations by dispensing contact refills without seeing a prescription. These regulatory changes will address the court decision.