Major Regulatory Reform Comes to Canada

The Health Professions and Occupations Act of British Columbia is likely the most significant reform in the regulation of health professions, including nursing, ever enacted in Canada. It ends self-regulation for the health professions and creates an entirely new governance regime for regulators in this Canadian province. This act also expands the mandate of health regulators to include extensive and detailed requirements to foster cultural humility, to promote reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and to actively address discrimination. Furthermore, it modifies the way in which regulatory activities are performed. This legislation will likely be closely monitored by nursing regulators throughout Canada. The present article highlights the more significant changes, particularly those consistent with regulatory reform initiatives elsewhere in Canada and the United Kingdom.