CPSBC and health regulation as whole in BC entered a new era on April 1, 2026, with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) coming into force. This follows years of preparation by CPSBC, other health regulators, and the Ministry of Health. We will naturally undergo an initial period of transition as we begin regulating under the HPOA, our new Bylaws and key changes to our internal processes and operations. For the most part though, the way licensees and the public engage and interact with CPSBC will remain the same.
From a governance standpoint, the new board under the HPOA has much continuity from our previous one. We now have a 12-person government-appointed board with six licensees and six public members. Nine of the members are from the previous board. The board will continue to have fiduciary oversight of CPSBC under the HPOA.
The new board members each signed an oath of office in a ceremony on April 1 and proceeded to have their first meeting. Among the highlights of the meeting was the approval of CPSBC’s new Bylaws, and the election of Dr. Shannon McDonald as the new and first Indigenous board chair and Dr. Katharine McKeen as vice-chair. Dr. McDonald and Dr. McKeen have both previously served on the CPSBC board and bring extensive clinical and governance experience.
The board also approved the appointments of committee members. Under the HPOA, there will be three statutory committees, five regulatory committees and four board support committees. Committee members were recruited through an open call process, where applicants were selected according to their alignment with identified competencies and other selection criteria. More information about the committees is available on our website.
The board also approved the appointment of our professional standards advisors. Under the HPOA, the board must seek the advice of professional standards advisors for the purpose of developing standards for licensees related to eligibility, ethics and practice. Their duties include:
- providing input on drafts of new or revised practice standards
- assessing how feedback from consultation and engagement can be incorporated
- consulting and working collaboratively with a new Indigenous Advisory Circle to ensure new or revised practice standards uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples, address systemic racism and advance reconciliation
Professional standards advisors will ensure that CPSBC delivers on its mandate to protect the public through effective regulation of the medical profession and that new or revised standards are clear, effective and applicable in medical practice.
The HPOA provides the groundwork for how health regulators will evolve and fulfill their mandate to protect the public and improve access to health care. We will build on the work we undertook this past year to transition to the HPOA, while also turning our attention towards new priorities such as the onboarding of four new professions into our regulatory framework in 2027.
I would like once again to thank the licensees who provided their time and expertise in our HPOA consultation process and express my appreciation for your continued patience during this legislative transition.
Patrick Rowe, MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP
Registrar and CEO
Comments on this or any other article published in the College Connector can be submitted to the communications and public affairs department at communications@cpsbc.ca.