‘Good standing’ requirement to be nixed

Province stops short of blanket licence for all health workers registered in Canada

A bill that will remove a hurdle for recruiting health workers to P.E.I. has passed a key step towards becoming law.

Changes to P.E.I.’S Regulated Health Professions Act passed second reading without any opposing votes on May 24.

The changes would remove a requirement that doctors, nurses and other health professionals obtain a letter of good standing from every jurisdiction – either other provinces or other countries – in which they have previously practised before working in P.E.I.

The changes would require that P.E.I.’S regulatory colleges ensure health professionals have no outstanding complaints that could render them unfit to practise in the province.

Speaking before the legislative assembly, Nichola Hewitt, a legislative specialist with the Department of Health and Wellness, noted P.E.I. is competing with other provinces to attract health workers.

She also said the requirement is onerous for professionals who have worked in many regions.

“If you, for example, have got a travel nurse that may have practised in eight jurisdictions, that means that in order to apply for registration here that individual would have to go to eight jurisdictions and get a confirmation from each,” Hewitt said.

“That creates an uneven playing field for us right now, which is a real problem.”

Hewitt said Nova Scotia’s laws only require health professionals to show a letter of good standing from their first jurisdiction of practice.

“PUSHBACK” AGAINST

Ontario, N.S. measures

Last month, Nova Scotia changed its laws to waive the requirement for licensure in that province for health providers arriving from all other jurisdictions in Canada. Tim Houston’s PC government also passed a law restricting health profession colleges from charging application fees.

Ontario put in place similar “as of right” provisions in January.

On May 24, Green Leader Peter Bevan-baker noted P.E.I.’S legislative changes are not as far-reaching as these measures, despite the pressing need for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

“I’m wondering why we didn’t go as far as Nova Scotia did?” Bevan-baker said.

Hewitt said there has been “a lot of pushback” from regulatory colleges in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

“I think there are a lot of concerns – from regulators across the country – about what Nova Scotia and Ontario are doing,” Hewitt said.

“There is a lot of concern because they’ve just basically thrown the baby out with the bath water.”

Professional regulatory bodies like P.E.I.’S College of Physician and Surgeons are responsible for investigating complaints and, if necessary, disciplining health professionals. Hewitt said allowing a blanket licensure for any health professionals from other provinces carries the risk of allowing some to practise who have ongoing investigations elsewhere.

“You could actually have people working in this province that the college doesn’t even know are in this province. And there could be ongoing investigations,” Hewitt said.

“We’d have no idea.”

FURTHER CHANGES

Hewitt said regulatory colleges are best placed to determine whether past complaints should restrict health professionals from practising in P.E.I. and whether educational requirements from other jurisdictions align with the standards of the province’s health system.

Hewitt also said the fees charged by P.E.I. regulatory colleges have “never been raised” to the province as a major barrier. She also said further easing of licensing requirements will be made by cabinet in regulations to ease red tape and help recruitment of off-island health professionals.

“Things that were kind of a little more cumbersome in the past, by the end of June, I expect will be far more streamlined,” she said.

Hewitt said P.E.I.’S College of Physicians and Surgeons has also been “crushed” by a recent jump in complaints. The College adjudicated 14 complaints in 2020, 19 in 2021 and 46 in 2022.

“The bottom line is, they’re struggling to keep up,” Hewitt said.

The changes allow a longer timeline for the investigations and hearings into complaints about health professionals.