On October 19, 2022, the BC Minister of Health introduced new legislation to replace the Health Professions Act (HPA), the umbrella statute by which the government has established a common regulatory system for the province's health professions.
The new Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), which received Royal Assent on November 24, 2022, lays the groundwork for transforming how regulators fulfill their mandate to protect the public. This new legislation reflects Harry Cayton's 2018 review of both the HPA and the former College of Dental Surgeons of BC, and the subsequent recommendations from the all-party Steering Committee on the Modernization of Health Profession Regulation in 2020.
It is now up to Cabinet to determine when the HPOA will take effect. For now, the College will continue to operate under the current HPA.
The College is collaborating with the Ministry of Health, registrants, other health regulators and key partners, and the public to advance a framework for health profession regulation that is efficient, consistent, effective, and firmly focused on the public interest. We will provide updates on our website as more information about the HPOA becomes available.