The Registrar magazine - Issue 9 - Fall 2023

Issue 9 Fall 2023

THE RIGHT TOUCH Harry Cayton on his transformative work in licensing and professional regulation

THE REGULATOR: The College of Applied Biologists celebrates its 20th anniversary

THE REGISTRANT:

How trauma helped inform Quebec psychotherapist Lisa Ndejuru’s career

DEI IN REGULATION:

The College of Early Childhood Educators shares its commitment to inclusion and belonging

Issue 9 — Fall 2023 Journalists and Contributors Damian Ali Dean Benard Christine Houghton

Canadian Regulatory Guide: The public register of regulatory bodies.

Graphic Designer & Production Manager Allison Wedler Editor in Chief M. Daniel Roukema

Photo Credits Adobe Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation (CNAR) MDR Strategy Group Ltd.

www.regulatoryguide.ca Informing the Public

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Promoting Regulators

The Registrar magazine is produced and published by MDR Strategy Group Ltd. 800-1701 Hollis Street Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada B3J 2T9 1-800-874-3820 editor@theregistar.ca www.theregistrar.ca www.mdrstrategy.ca © 2023. All rights reserved

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SUBSCRIBE

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Protecting Canadians

IN THIS ISSUE 5

DEI IN REGULATION

The College of Early Childhood Educators and its approach to DEI in all it does.

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THE REGISTRANT

Quebec psychotherapist Lisa Ndejuru speaks about her career and how the Rwandan genocide contributed to her commitment to trauma-informed healing.

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COVER STORY

How Harry Cayton's career led to his groundbreaking leadership in Canadian licensing and professional regulation.

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CLEAR MEMORIES

In pictures: CLEAR's 2023 Annual Education Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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GOVERNANCE COMMENTARY

Safeguarding fairness: The important role of fairness oversight in Canada’s professional regulatory sector.

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THE REGULATOR

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BC's College of Applied Biologists and its 20 years of work protecting the public.

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CNAR 2023

In pictures: CNAR's 2023 Annual Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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THE REGISTRAR PODCAST

Conversations with Aussie regulator Kym Ayscough and America's Jimi Bush.

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PROUD SPONSOR OF THIS ISSUE

DEI in Regulation

REGULATOR SHOWCASE The College of Early Childhood Educators and DEI The Registrar Staff

T Beth Deazeley, CEO and Registrar, CECE

he Registrar spoke with the is implemented and marked as comCollege of Childhood Edu- plete. cators to showcase a unique and important journey in learning, “Like most regulatory bodies, we understanding, and implementing had little in-house expertise in eqDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion uity, diversity and inclusion prior to 2020,” says Deazeley. “To help (DEI) initiatives. us learn and unlearn, we intentionally sought out and engaged with CECE experts to support our work. This has included training and advice on how to apply anti-racism, equiBeth Deazeley, CEO and Registrar, ty, diversity and inclusion in areas says acknowledging that the CECE such as policy development, invesis not a DEI subject matter expert tigations and adjudication, goverwas the first step to making prog- nance, human resources and strateress. Staff was credited with initiat- gic planning.” ing the journey, and were supported every step of the way by Council. In 2020, the CECE developed a Deazeley emphasizes that the jour- Statement of Commitment to Anney is, and always will be ongoing, ti-Racism. This was integrated into rather than a one-time project that the College’s multi-year strategic THEREGISTRAR.CA

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families,” Deazeley said. “We didn’t regulatory organizations,” she said. want to contribute to this problem, “When seeking to engage with indiso a mandatory component of the viduals, we must invest the time to education program is a resource build meaningful relationships and we developed based on consulta- work hard to earn their trust.” tion and expert advice, Racism and Bias in Reporting to Child Welfare, “Our responsibility to the public obto guide registrants in examining ligates us as regulators to work to Deazeley provided an example in their own biases when exercising identify and address racism and discrimination in the sectors in which the development of the CECE’s their professional judgement. our registrants practice,” Deazeley Sexual Abuse Prevention Program, a mandatory educational require- Deazeley states that, due to the said. “Healthy and equitable pracment that is designed to empower power that regulators exercise, tice environments benefit the pubregistrants with proactive approach- there is always the risk of contribut- lic by improving access to profeses to recognize and prevent child ing to systems that oppress margin- sionals and enhancing the quality sexual abuse. A component of the alized groups. She says that critical of care provided.” preventative aspect of the Program examinations of all initiatives and involves reporting risk of harm to a decision-making procedures is necchild, to the Children’s Aid Society. essary, to advance equity in a public “We were conscious of the problem of protection mandate. bias and racism in reporting to child “We were conscious of the problem of bias and racism in reporting to “We need to acknowledge that mar- welfare and the over-reporting of Black, child welfare and the over-reporting ginalized communities often have Indigenous and racialized families” of Black, Indigenous and racialized many good reasons not to trust -Deazeley plan in 2022, which included several important plans. “It [the CECE’s multi-year strategic plan] included a commitment to embed equity, diversity and inclusion into all aspects of our work as a key objective,” Deazeley said.

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“Our systems right now are really good, but, many times, traditional forms of training need to be altered when it comes to appropriately servicing our communities,” -Ndejuru

Dr. Lisa Ndejuru: LinkedIn

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The Registrant

LISA NDEJURU, PhD How the legacy of genocide paved a path for this inspiring Quebec psychotherapist The Registrar staff [Content/trigger warning: The following article includes information on genocide, structural racism, and systemic discrimination that some may find upsetting. Readers are encouraged to seek support if needed.]

D

r. Lisa Ndejuru’s paternal grandfather was assassinated in Rwanda on March 26, 1962.

Her maternal grandfather and mother were imprisoned.

A whirlwind of an upbringing

Ndejuru was born in Huye, one of Rwanda’s southern This occurred some thirty years prior to the Rwandan districts. Raised in Cologne, Germany, she studied genocide of 1994. Ndejuru’s father, exiled from their French, a legacy of Belgian colonialism, which, until home country, reunited with her mother after she was the 1994 genocide was widely spoken in the central Afreleased and raised Ndejuru in Germany when she was rican country. In a move to heal the nation of the conjust two years old. Later in life, she found herself strug- flict that claimed almost one million lives, the Rwandan government dumped French and adopted as the gling with issues of meaning and belonging. country’s western language.

In spite of these hardships, Ndejuru has always felt that empowerment could result from spoken history. By in- At the age of 12, Ndejuru’s family immigrated to Montegrating life experiences into her psychotherapy prac- treal, Quebec in search for a more stable and secure life tice from her 20 years spent as a leader in mental health after Germany rejected their application for citizenship. advocacy, and using improvised theatre to create individual and collective significance, she has effectively From Rwanda to Germany, and now Canada, the constant movement at a young age caused Ndejuru to transformed pain into power. question her identity, especially about her ancestral THEREGISTRAR.CA

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homeland and culture. The enduring

about her pursuit of identity in past

pain affected many from the Rwandan

years. After obtaining her MA at L'uni-

community who were still coming to

versité de Sherbrooke in 2007, she sought

terms with the ethnic cleansing that saw

to help provide healing strategies and

almost one million people die in a few

closure with trauma survivors. There-

months.

after, she noticed that there were many

“When I was 16, there was the passing of

political and social dimensions within psychotherapy that were taboo. “Since

my first cousin, who committed suicide,” these topics couldn’t be touched, I wantNdejuru said. “This was a moment that ed to express myself in different forms of enlarged the questioning of my environ- theatre,” Ndejuru said. “Improvisational ment, which led to much pain.” theatre proved to be a therapeutic outlet

Ndejuru earned her BA in religious studies and psychology at L’université du Québec à Montréal. Through this program, she learned how to make meaning out of life and death and situate herself in a way that made sense out of one of the world’s great atrocities, Not being particularly religious, her education encouraged her to pursue healing that was holistic by design.

“I knew that there were many things [in my life] that felt too precarious,” Ndejuru said. “One of the first things that I

for me, which eventually allowed me to work with difficult stories, including my own.”

Ndejuru worked with colleagues to create a multi-year-long oral history project based at Concordia University entitled ‘We are Here: Life Stories of Montrealers Displaced by War, Genocide and Other Human Rights Violations.’ From 2005 to 2012, Ndejuru used her own story, and stories from her community, and channeled them into something educational and accessible.

learned in this program was the feeling

of ‘I was going to be the first tool.’ There “It was hard for my own family to express was a lot of learning about myself, as well themselves about the trauma they faced

as the craft, which led to my love for the- during the genocide, as no one wanted to talk about it. Finding out more about atre at the age of 17.” these experiences not only allowed my

Finding meaning from tragedy

community to express their thoughts, but also allow Cambodians, Haitians, Jewish, and Indigenous groups to talk about their own, respective feelings [on

The genocide reminded Ndejuru a lot 10 THEREGISTRAR.CA

traumatic experiences].

In 2007, Ndejuru started her private practice in Montreal after becoming licensed with the Ordre des psychologues du Québec, which she continues to this day. She services clients from diverse walks of life, and notes that true power comes from knowing about where and what people come from, recognizing every life circumstance faced, and deciding what to make of them.

Putting all of her endeavours and learnings together, Ndejuru obtained her transdisciplinary Ph.D at Concordia University in 2017. In her dissertation ‘Oral History and Performance in the Aftermath of Organized Violence: An Epistemological Contribution,’ Ndejuru discusses how deep listening to difficult stories can lead to long-term healing from intergenerational trauma.

“Black and Brown communities have a lot of differences and commonalities, all of which can be supported,” Ndejuru says. “Using psychotherapy and life coaching, I help my clients reconcile with their entire life stories. Then, using tailored techniques such as psychodrama, which is a guided form of role-playing incorporating elements of theatre, people gain brand-new perspectives on their emotional conflicts.”

Throughout her work, Ndejuru says “Black and brown the most important thing to recog- communities have a nize is having benevolence towards lot of differences and ourselves. While demand for men- commonalities, all of which tal health services remains high, can be supported." she wants to ensure that people do - Ndejuru not suffer needlessly. “We need to educate people more on how to take care of their wellness, so that it eventually becomes a habit aided by other servicing.”

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“Our systems right now are really good, but, many times, traditional forms of training need to be altered when it Ndejuru works with three community comes to appropriately servicing our organizations at Concordia University communities,” Ndejuru said. “There’s to run a multi-year research project cen- a lot of thinking that can done on this tred on Black wellness in Montreal and area, to determine if the ways that we are beyond. It resulted from the realization working with people is truly helping. If it that racialized communities oftentimes doesn’t work, we should be changing.” hold back from seeking help. She believes that the ways in which licensed Reflecting on her storied past, and now professionals are trained in culturally looking ahead, Ndejuru returned to sensitive ways at the community level Rwanda in 2023 to support her husband need to be rethought, so that every level and son's projects. She says she has deof care provided is improved. veloped a unique toolkit over the course

Long-term project building

of her career to service people not just in Montreal, but beyond. “I’m back home, and recognize that some core issues are global,” Ndejuru said. “I want to be able to work here, and in different places, to share what I have learned about my own history with others and simply give back.”

“There’s a lot of thinking that can done on this area, to determine if the ways that we are working with people is truly helping."

- Ndejuru

Lisa speaking to The Registrar from her homeland of Rwanda

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RegulatoryJobs.ca is Canada's hub for employment opportunities in licensing and professional regulation www.regulatoryjobs.ca THEREGISTRAR.CA

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"The people who were meant to be regulators were primarily just doing it, but if you asked them why, they’d reply with ‘this is just what we do.”

- Cayton

Harry Cayton

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Cover Story

THE RIGHT TOUCH Harry Cayton on his transformative work in licensing and professional regulation

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The Registrar staff

Manchuria, China in the late 1930’s during the Japanese occupation in World War Two, before reuniting and returning to Bristol to start and raise a family. As a young man, Cayton worked different roles, including teaching children with disabilities. Eventually, through a chance opportunity, he was offered a Canadian Commonwealth Fellowship to work in Canada, and, in 1983, made his way to St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia . As both an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Commander A transformative start of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), distinctions earned in 2000 and 2015 respectively, Cayton was The early years of Harry Cayton recognized for his prominent conwere just as momentous as his fu- tributions to health and regulation ture career. His parents met in reform in the U.K. n the global regulatory community, one would be hardpressed to not know the name Harry Cayton. The former head of the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) in the U.K. has been instrumental in evaluating and redesigning structures and approaches in health and regulation, governance, and public policy. Cayton has also advised regulatory bodies and governments in Canada, Australia, and Ireland, and New Zealand, Hong Kong, and other countries.

Cayton believes his interest and commitment to public health likely began after his family was confronted with an illness that afflicted his father. The younger Cayton says he was shocked to discover how little support was available for families in need, and sought to change that.

In 1992, he led The Alzheimer’s Disease Society. Under his leadership, the organization grew from 14 staff to several hundred care workers in just 12 years. Taking note, the Tony Blair government appointed Cayton as National Director for Patients and the Public, a critical public sector role intended to refocus the provision of public health services.

Following his successful non-profit career at the Society, Cayton recalls THEREGISTRAR.CA

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Cover Story

the limitations in government bureaucracies and the slow pace of change. “I was feeling a bit fed up with not making decisions,” Cayton says. “I had 20 years of being a Chief Executive and now I was advising people what to do, yet they weren’t doing it.”

regulation to a common-sense system by emphasizing outcomes.

Shifting the emphasis away from the process of regulation and towards outcome and measurable-based results was at the centre of this approach, Cayton says.

When the British government created a “How do you know that you’re making a new body to oversee health regulators, difference?” Cayton said of regulatory eventually growing into the U.K.’s PSA bodies and their mandates to protect the in 2002, Cayton was appointed to the public interest. “One of the statements of right-touch regulation is that regu“I was, however, feeling a chief executive role. It was here that he lation provides a framework in which bit fed up of not making became the architect of modern licensprofessionalism can flourish ,” Cayton decisions, I had 20 years of ing and professional regulation and laid says. “The truth is, in my opinion, that being a Chief Executive and the foundation that cemented his legacy we shouldn’t think about how to build was telling people what to do, as its unofficial chief strategist. public confidence in regulation but, inyet they weren’t doing it." stead, think about how we keep the pub- Cayton Outcomes-focused lic safe from harm. If you do that well, leadership you instill public confidence where good professionals are recognized by keeping their patients safe.”

Cayton’s initial work in regulation was very different than it is today, noting While right-touch regulation was develthat things were highly mechanical early oped for a U.K. public, Cayton was suron. Regulation is a social invention and prised how well it was received internanot a law of nature, Cayton says. “I was tionally. In 2018, a PSA paper, entitled struck by what I would call a lack of in- ‘Right-touch regulation in practice – intellectual conception about what regula- ternational perspectives,’ showcased how tion was meant to be,” he explains. “The regulators around the world adopted people who were meant to be regulators the principles of right-touch regulation were primarily just doing it, but if you to modernize their approaches. Case asked them why, they’d reply with ‘this studies from the College of Registered is just what we do,’” Cayton says.

Nurses of Alberta (CRNA), the Royal Despite the good intentions laid out by regulators, there was rarely a focus on measuring regulatory impact, Cayton says. Citing the need for greater purpose in regulation, Cayton and his PSA colleagues developed the eight principles of right-touch regulation, aiming to reduce 16 THEREGISTRAR.CA

College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, Great Britain’s General Pharmaceutical Council , and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency were all included in the paper. In 2022, CRNA was recognized by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) for the excellence of its work

Cover Story

right-touch regulation too little: ineffective

regulatory force

too much: wasted effort

target risk

in applying the principles of right-ouch regulation.

role and importance, Cayton embraces the need for more targeted listening and engagement. Each regulatory body has Interest in right-touch regulation contin- its own public, which he refers to as pubues to grow and Cayton sees why. “I think lics, and more effort is required to protect it’s much more important to think about each one. It’s then up to those publics to Right-touch regulation as an approach define the value of the regulator. to problem-solving, rather than just reg“One of the statements of ulation,” Cayton says. “It’s something “As we become more conscious of diver- right-touch regulation is I’ve been advocating for 23 years, and I’m sity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), [for ex- that regulation provides quite astonished to find that even more ample] we find that there is no such thing a framework in which countries, including for instance Saudi as ‘the public,’” Cayton says. “There are professionalism can flourish.”

Arabia, have reached out to say that they many different publics who may have - Cayton conflicting interests and regulators need want to use these guiding principles.” to understand this beyond seeing them as a generalized monolith.”

Protecting the public(s)

Inclusion and belonging

The common denominator in Cayton’s decades-long career is his unwavering commitment to the public interest. He While understanding the importance says that it’s crucial that the public sees of DEI, Cayton views the term as reducregulators as an important part of society. tionist, diminishing the complexity of important social relationships and vulCayton sees many regulators around the nerability to an acronym. Anti-racism efworld operating on a ‘transmit,’ rather forts need to be discussed more, Cayton than a ‘receive’ mode. Instead of regula- explains, as it is an underlying thread tors informing the general public of their of a regulator’s failure to implement THEREGISTRAR.CA

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Cover Story Harry Cayton

diversity, equity, and inclusion separate- lics are and what they think, especially ly from each other. minority publics, who need to be engaged with through your focus groups The recent move by regulators to take and your surveys,” Cayton says. “For exa more inclusive approach to protecting ample, are western models of regulation the public has taken many forms and practised in Canada or the U.S.A. imCayton commends the shift. Recogniz- posed on Asian or African communities ing the need is a positive step, however, with different health care structures a he cautions regulator-driven solutions. form of colonialism? “While I don’t have “Practising anti-racism, alongside diver- any answers, there needs be an undersity, equity, and inclusion, is so much standing that there isn’t just one way of harder than just talking about it,” Cay- doing professional regulation.” ton said. “It’s right that we care about it, but we need to deconstruct DEI and talk about what each of those terms mean on Current regulatory trends their own.”

The shortage of health care workers in Canada and other countries has critically challenged Canada’s health care infrastructure. To Cayton, the idea that an Alberta-licensed physician may not practise in New Brunswick without special permission is impractical. While there are historical contexts applying to a province’s identity within Canada, Cayton says that labour mobility remains crucial overall and breaking down pro“You have to understand who these pub- vincial barriers are necessary. He looks

A smaller board can make a regulator’s believe regulators need to governance models more effective. Cayput less thinking about the ton, as a believer in small boards, says that profession they regulate, and while professionals from a specific public start thinking more about the don’t have to sit on a board to get involved people they regulate for.” with the profession, their voices can still - Cayton be heard through different means of engagement. An all-inclusive board simply isn’t effective or realistic, Cayton says, if true diversity is to be achieved.

“At the end of the day, I

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Cayton also reflects on artificial intelligence (AI) and suggests it could be a powerful tool for analyzing large datasets, the sharing of this data between regulators could speed up many processes including renewals or licensing. However, he cautions that regulating AI itself should not be the end goal. Rather, Cayton believes that regulators should regulate the consequences of using AI. “Focusing on the outcomes on the way people use AI should be the primary focus, Cayton said. “We need to emphasize the harms that AI can cause to patients, such as the loss of jobs, so that employers can build new opportunities for professionals.”

Harry Cayton

People-first leadership To Cayton, public bodies need to look outwards, and not always inwards. This means that there must be an understanding of the harms that are likely to happen in the industry being regulated, a recognition of the likelihood of those harms reoccurring, and differentiating those harms and the impacts to all communities.

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Cover Story

to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agen- “At the end of the day, I believe regulators need to cy (AHPRA) governance model as a success story where put less into thinking about the profession they regnational licensure enables cross jurisdictional practice ulate, and start thinking more about the people they regulate for.” with ease.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Deputy Registrar Established in 2011, the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) is an independent, self-funded, not-for-profit regulator mandated by the government to protect and ensure the safety and well-being of seniors living in Ontario’s over 770 licensed retirement homes, under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010. The RHRA’s central role is to inform, educate and protect seniors living in retirement homes across Ontario.

The Deputy Registrar plays a pivotal role in upholding the regulatory standards and policies that safeguard the residents of retirement homes across Ontario. They will collaborate closely with the CEO/Registrar and the leadership team to develop and execute strategies that ensure compliance, quality of care, and resident safety within the retirement home sector.

This executive-level role serves as a leader within the senior management team. Working closely with the CEO/Registrar, the incumbent is responsible for overseeing regulatory strategy and execution through the regulatory operations functions. More...

www.regulatoryjobs.ca

In Pictures

Courtesy of CLEAR

courtesy of MDR Strategy Group Ltd.

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courtesy of MDR Strategy Group Ltd.

courtesy of MDR Strategy Group Ltd.

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Governance

SAFEGUARDING FAIRNESS The Important Role of Fairness Oversight in Canada's Professional Regulatory Sector Dean Benard, President and CEO

I Dean Benard

Benard + Associates

n Canada, Fairness Commissioners and similar entities (we’ll call them Fairness Commissioners for this article) play a crucial role in overseeing the registration practices of regulatory bodies. Each year, we have seen more provinces, through new or amended legislation, create fairness commissioners with mandates to ensure the registration processes of professional regulatory bodies are equitable, transparent, and just. But what do these overseers do precisely, and why is their presence significant in safeguarding the public?

latory sector, ensuring that professional certification and licensure processes adhere to principles that allow for the smooth integration of internationally trained professionals. Their goal is to aid in cultivating a diverse and inclusive professional environment.

These “overseers of fairness” operate to ensure the following principles are the foundation of regulatory decision-making:

Transparency

In the broadest sense, they serve as Transparency and clarity around an impartial overseer in the regu- rules and process is critical. It isn’t 24 THEREGISTRAR.CA

internationally trained professionals gain work experience under the supervision of a licensed Fairness is the goal, and it is achieved professional by implementing the above principles to create rational assessments, • Some jurisdictions or professions that did not previously recognize equal opportunity, expedient proforeign credentials now do cessing, and the provision for review in case of disagreements. Regulato- • The establishment of appeal processes ry bodies are mandated to ensure that the assessment doesn’t create • Reduction in the time required to assess foreign credentials. unnecessary obstacles for applicants; instead, it must ensure every applicant has equal opportunity In these various capacities, fairness regardless of their origin or back- commissioners have influenced the growth of a more inclusive proground.

Objectivity fessional landscape and directly Fairness Commissioners are about impacted consumer welfare. By faObjectivity is critical to consistent more than just oversight. Their cilitating the integration of internadecision-making. Regulatory bod- work within various jurisdictions tionally trained professionals into ies must eliminate arbitrary deci- often extends to actively collaborat- the Canadian workforce, these comsions through appropriate training, ing with regulatory bodies, advising missioners have helped to ensure criteria, and procedures. Applicants on policy, and recommending mod- Canadians have access to a broader should be evaluated with the same ifications to practices that might base of skilled professionals, promeasure of scrutiny, ensuring de- inadvertently be unfair or discrimi- moting innovation and enhancing cisions aren’t influenced by who natory. In provinces such as Ontario, service delivery in various sectors. makes them or when they are made. fairness commissioners undertake This creates a valid and reliable as- a rigorous assessment of regulato- However, while Fairness Commissessment of all applicants’ qualifica- ry bodies, publishing reports high- sioners have played a pivotal role in lighting areas of excellence and promoting inclusivity and equality tions. in professional regulatory practices, those requiring improvement. they face challenges and criticisms Impartiality Certainly, Fairness Commissioners from some who express concerns have had significant impacts on the such as: professional regulatory landscape in Decisions should be devoid of pre- various provinces of Canada. Some • The taxpayer-funded cost of their conceived notions, conflicts of in- examples across various jurisdicoperations must provide an adeterest, or limited understanding of tions include: quate return on investment. diversity and equality issues. Strate• Fairness Commissioners can gies, including specific training and • Reforms to streamline the licensometimes increase the bureauprocedural guidelines, are instituted cracy, and the added layer of sure process for international to ensure that every assessment is oversight slows down the decigraduates. unbiased, fostering an environment • The introduction of provisional sion-making process. licencing for some professions so • They might overstep their bounds, where applicants are judged on

good enough to have procedures; they must be easily understood and accessible. Each component of the application and registration process must be explicit. Regardless of their background, applicants should have access to complete, accurate, and easily understood information.

This fosters a level playing field where every potential professional knows the steps, requirements, and expectations ahead.

merit and qualifications.

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professionals who help address interfering excessively and imlabour market needs and skill pacting the autonomy of the regshortages ulatory bodies.

• Fairness Commissioners are more 6. Access to and attracting global talent to Canada by ensuring that symbolic, and their impact and foreign credentials are recognized effectiveness are limited. fairly The evidence demonstrates that 7. Strengthening international partnerships through mutual recogniFairness Commissioners have made tion of qualifications. a clear and positive impact by fostering a transition to a more equitable, Commissioners help transparent, and just professional Fairness regulatory environment. While the balance the need to maintain criticisms and concerns cannot be professional standards with the ignored, they can be quickly ad- need to integrate internationally dressed by ensuring regular reviews and necessary adjustments to their mandate and operations.

There is a myriad of reasons why Fairness Commissioners play a crucial role in Canada in ensuring that internationally trained professionals receive fair treatment and opportunities to practice their professions. Here are just a few: 1. Promoting fairness through equitable and consistent assessment 2. Creating applicant accessibility and understanding through transparent processes 3. Enhancing diversity within various professional fields, thereby creating opportunities for new perspectives 4. Promoting inclusion to integrate internationally trained professionals into the Canadian workforce 5. Contributing to economic growth through the utilization of skilled, internationally trained 26 THEREGISTRAR.CA

trained professionals.

They review and work with regulatory bodies to ensure their registration practices are transparent, objective, impartial, and fair.

This, in turn, aids in reducing barriers for those professionals and enhances their contributions to Canadian society and the economy.

The Regulator

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY The College of Applied Biologists (CAB) reflects on 20 years of unique regulation Christine Houghton, CEO, College of Applied Biologists

I

Christine Houghton, CEO, College of Applied Biologists

n 2003, the government of British Columbia took a bold and important step in recognizing applied biology as a self-regulating profession by introducing the College of Applied Biology Act and establishing the College of Applied Biology (the College). This legislation was the first in the world to acknowledge applied biology in resource management by protecting the registered titles for Registered Professional Biologists (RPBios), and later Registered Biology Technologists (RBTechs) and Applied Biology Technicians (ABTs). Twenty years later, the College ― now the College of Applied Biologists ― has grown both in the number of registrants and in its mandate to protect the public interest.

Recognizing that the journey started long before 2003, the latest leg in the evolving the professional governance of applied biology was initiated in October 2017 with the Professional Reliance Review. The review culminated in the introduction of the Professional Governance Act (PGA) in the fall of 2018. The PGA allowed for the ability of the College to enhance its mandate to better protect the public by enshrining practice rights (now reserved practice) in legislation — another global first.

The transition from a member-driven association to a professional regulator over a relatively short period of time has been both inspiring and challenging. As with any challenge, there are opportunities. Finding THEREGISTRAR.CA

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those opportunities and then capitalizing on them while maintaining our core statutory duties was a reach for a small regulator like the College. The advantage to this is having a dedicated and committed team of staff and volunteers to take on the key steps required to move forward at what (in regulatory development) felt like lightning speed.

istrants may need support as we moved forward. Our objective was to have a clear, effective, transparent regulatory regime that would ensure that the College continued to put protecting the public interest at the centre of all its undertakings.

The result has been a relatively seamless transition to the new requirements of the PGA and the implementaAs well, there was no existing model of professional reg- tion of reserved practice1. ulation for applied biology. This meant we were charting a new course without the benefit of learning from So why is it important that applied biology is regulated? how it was managed in other jurisdictions. It did feel at We all know that we rely on professionals every day. We times that we “were flying the plane while building it.” need to have confidence that the bridge we are crossing is safe, the diagnosis we are receiving is sound or the As applied scientists, the College approached the task prescription we are filling is correct. We also need to systemically. We catalogued what needed to change to be confident that the management of our precious and come into compliance with the PGA, we assessed those finite natural resources is sustainable. things that could be improved regardless of the statute, and we identified where registrants and potential reg- The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 15 1 For more information on the implementation of reserved practice, please review the following documents: Professional Applied Biology & Reserved Practice, and Reserved Practice Compliance Plan.

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is to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss” (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sustainable Development).

How we meet this goal ― and it must be “how” not “if” ― will require that we look beyond economic benefits to the long-term benefits of environmental sustainability.

While not perfect, here in British Columbia we have taken some important steps. Being the first jurisdiction in the world to bring reserved practice into force, the province has clearly indicated that it puts a priority on ensuring that a qualified, competent and accountable applied biology professional is assessing, interpreting and recommending mitigation measures or alternative solutions as it relates to impacts on the receiving environment.

Knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation and it plays a critical role in meeting the United Nations Goal 15.

Indigenous stewardship of the lands and waters goes back from time in memorial; regulated applied biology professionals have only been around for twenty years (and with reserved practice only since September 1, 2022). However, by listening and learning from Indigenous Peoples, and working collaboratively, we can all play a part in ensuring our children and our grandchildren have a future they can look forward to and a past they can be proud of.

The next twenty years are going to be critical.

But applied biologists are only part of the answer. There is much we can learn from the Indigenous Peoples who have lived here for well over 10,000 years and who have successfully and sustainably cared for the lands and waters. That Indigenous

The Registrar Magazine invites regulatory bodies to contribute news, updates, and other information in their own words. If you are interested in spotlighting your regulatory body, contact The Registrar Magazine.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the organization and its contributors.

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KYM AYSCOUGH Aussie Rules: In conversation with Kym Ayscough about health regulation in Australia Episode 7 Join host Daniel Roukema and Kym Ayscough, Executive Director, Regulatory Operations of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), as the two discuss Australia’s licensing and professional regulation system, labour mobility challenges, and the importance of recognizing the history, values, and contributions of its Indigenous peoples.

34 THEREGISTRAR.CA

podcast

JIMI BUSH Regulatory Communications and Inclusion Episode 8

Join host Daniel Roukema and Jimi Bush, Director of Quality and Engagement, Washington State Medical Commission (WMC), as they talk about Jimi’s career experiences, social media strategizing in professional regulation, and her noteworthy accomplishments in the organization.

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Death – the subject no one wants to talk about.

But really, everyone needs to know about.

This free family magazine is filled with compelling stories & videos about your options & rights in death sector services.

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The online magazine also focuses on consumer protection information, human interest stories on grief, history of cemeteries, plus features on familiar and lesser-known services.

Beyond is the magazine of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO), a government delegated authority administering provisions of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA) on behalf of the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery.

Responsible for protection of the public interest, the BAO regulates, ensures compliance with the law, provides resources and services to licensed: • Funeral establishment operators, directors and preplanners; • Cemetery, crematorium and alternative disposition operators; • Transfer service operators; and • Bereavement sector sales representatives across Ontario.

The BAO is wholly funded by licensee fees (not tax dollars).