Newsflash ~ Update on Bill 171
June 1, 2007
The Bill 171 battle has been won. Social Workers will be authorized to perform the new controlled act of Psychotherapy. The Bill has passed 3rd reading on a voice vote and will soon receive Royal Assent and be law in Ontario. Thanks to all who lent their voice to this effort!
From the Explanatory Notes of the Bill 171 (An Act to improve health systems by amending or repealing various enactments and enacting certain Acts):
SCHEDULE Q: PSYCHOTHERAPY ACT, 2007
The short title of the new health profession Act is the Psychotherapy Act, 2007.
The Schedule contains a number of complementary amendments, including the following. It amends the RHPA to add the new health profession Act and the profession of psychotherapy to Schedule 1 under the RHPA. The Schedule also adds the new controlled act of psychotherapy to the existing list of 13 controlled acts within subsection 27 (2) of the RHPA, defining the new controlled act as, “treating, by means of psychotherapy technique, delivered through a therapeutic relationship, an individual’s serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception or memory that may seriously impair the individual’s judgement, insight, behaviour, communication or social functioning”.
It is clarified that a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers is authorized to perform the controlled acts.
Excerpt From Bill 171 as passed, and soon to be Law in Ontario:
Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991
19. (1) Subsection 27 (2) of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 is amended by adding the following paragraph:
14. Treating, by means of psychotherapy technique, delivered through a therapeutic relationship, an individual’s serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception or memory that may seriously impair the individual’s judgement, insight, behaviour, communication or social functioning.
(1.1) Section 27 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
(4) Despite subsection (1), a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers is authorized to perform the controlled act set out in paragraph 14 of subsection (2), in compliance with the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, its regulations and by-laws.