2007-09-05 - Self-Regultion Considered by HPRAC
2007-09-05 - ONTARIO PARAMEDIC SELF-REGULATION BEING CONSIDERED BY HPRAC

ONTARIO PARAMEDIC ASSOCIATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paramedics in Ontario applaud Minister of Health, George Smitherman’s request to the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC) to consider the inclusion of Ontario’s Paramedics into the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA).

“This is a bold step forward for Ontario’s Paramedics and the profession as a whole. The Association will be consulting with a broad group of stakeholders in order to get all possible input into this critical step in our development of our profession” said Mary Osinga, President of the Ontario Paramedic Association (OPA). Other stakeholders in the profession such as the Emergency Medical Services Chiefs and the Paramedic Association of Canada have supported the inclusion of Paramedics Ontario in RHPA for quite some time.

HPRAC also will now begin a very intensive process consulting with all interested parties to determine if Paramedics and Emergency Medical Attendants in Ontario should be self-regulated and if so, to what extent, as their counterparts are in provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.

“Self Regulation has been a goal of the OPA, since our inception in 1995. We’ve done our work, presented our case, and it’s now up to the Minister, and HPRAC to determine if the need is there.”, said Glen Gillies – Director of Public & Media Relations for the OPA.

Self-Regulation may involve the forming of a provincial College of Paramedicine, similar to those in place for Ontario’s nurses, Chiropractors, Physician’s and Surgeons, Respiratory & Massage Therapists.

The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa is responsible for promoting the practice of Paramedicine and ensuring the highest level of care for our patients.  We are leaders in the advancement of Paramedicine and achieve our objectives through public awareness, research and education.  We lobby for self-regulation under the Regulated Health Professions Act.  We also assist in fundraising for community-based charities.  The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa is a proud chapter of the Ontario Paramedic Association and the Paramedic Association of Canada. The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa (PPAO) is not a labour union.