IMPORTANT BILL 171 UPDATE

The College is aware of the significant impact Bill 171, in its current form, would have on our members.  To this end, we have engaged Counsel Public Affairs, a government relations firm, to implement a pro-active strategy to press for amendments to Bill 171 as it moves through the legislative process, including 2nd reading and referral to a Standing Committee.  The College will work with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ministry of Community and Social Services to ensure the Bill recognizes the key role College members play in the delivery of health and psychotherapy services to Ontarians and enables them to continue playing that role under the new proposed legislative framework. 

Bill 171, the Health System Improvements Act, amends a number of Acts, including the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) and also includes new Acts, such as the Psychotherapy Act which establishes the new College of Psychotherapists of Ontario.  With respect to psychotherapy, the Bill creates a new controlled act in the RHPA, related to treating, by means of psychotherapy technique (refer to section 19 of Schedule Q) which is only authorized to physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists and members of the new College of Psychotherapists of Ontario.  It does not therefore authorize members of OCSWSSW to perform the new controlled act related to psychotherapy nor use the title “psychotherapist”.

We will keep members up-to-date on any developments via our website and eBulletin. 

To view the Bill in its entirety, please visit

www.ontla.on.ca/documents/Bills/38_Parliament/session2/b171_e.htm. Amendments to the RHPA are in Schedule M. The Psychotherapy Act is in Schedule Q.