Behind the scenes of consumer protection: how professional development drives innovation and regulatory excellence By Trisha Richards and Dennis Furlan
W
hen the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA), Ontario’s newest regulator, officially opened its doors virtually in February 2021, the organization was already an active member of the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR), an international association and resource for professional regulation stakeholders. “We wanted to be part of a regulatory community that thinks strategically about what today’s modern regulator could, and I would add should, look like,” says Marc Spector, deputy registrar, HCRA, and former CLEAR board member. “CLEAR has a focus on what I
like to call relevant regulation, supporting organizations in making a truly meaningful impact in people’s lives.”
A CLEAR, universal perspective on regulation
CLEAR was initially the brainchild of regulators in the United States. Its purpose was to bring a range of professionals together to share challenges and discuss solutions to licensing and professional regulation challenges. Over the years, CLEAR’s mandate hasn’t changed much, but the organization now benefits from strong interest and participation from Canadian organizations, which began joining in the early 90s. Since
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