The territory’s government recently announced that it is looking for input from “stakeholders and the public” on planned amendments to its Health and Social Services Professions Act (HSSPA) — the goal is to “align the Northwest Territories with best practices across Canada” and provide “clear guidelines for both practitioners and patients.”
The announcement states that the HSSPA “seeks to bring all Department of Health and Social Services regulated professionals under one comprehensive regulatory framework.”
Most of the amendments involve the NWT Registrar of Health and Social Services Professions, which, according to a government webpage, oversees the licensing and practice standards of service providers such as medical professionals, dental hygienists, pharmacists, social workers, naturopathic practitioners, practical nurses and psychologists.
Key proposed amendments include:
- Requiring the Registrar to notify employers if a registered member’s licence is suspended, cancelled or subject to conditions.
- Requiring the Registrar to inform regulatory bodies in other Canadian jurisdictions if a member’s licence is suspended, cancelled or subject to conditions.
- Allowing the Registrar to approve continuing competency programs, standards of practice, codes of ethics, recording formats and guidelines.
- Allowing the Registrar to impose conditions on a licence at initial registration without limitations.
Other proposed changes include:
- Allowing the minister of Health and Social Services to direct the Registrar to register and issue licences during a state of emergency.
- Allowing a health or social services professional to apply to self-regulate.
- Requiring employers to report unprofessional conduct by a registered member to the Complaints Officer.
The deadline for feedback is Aug. 30.
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