Bill C51

The OAND is supporting the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors efforts to raise concerns about Bill C-51, federal legislation amending the Food and Drugs Act.

There are a number of reasons for NDs and patients to be concerned about this legislation:

It continues to treat natural health products like pharmaceuticals.
It may contribute to the loss of access to natural health products.
It creates a new definition of “practitioner” that does not include Naturopathic Doctors.
The definitions of “selling” and “controlled activity” could create new unnecessary restriction on the care NDs can provide.

Click here for more information from the OAND on this legislation.

Get Involved--Time is of the Essence

The OAND encourages you to participate in the CAND campaign to let the government and your federal Member of Parliament know you have concerns about this legislation. Remember to refer your patients to the website and encourage them to send letters to MPs as well.

This legislation must be amended to ensure there are no impacts on NDs. We must ask for natural substances to have their own distinct schedule which will protect access and ensure safety for the public and the practitioners.

Find out More

Visit the Bill C-51 page to find the CAND background paper and more.

What Can You Do?

Write a letter to the federal Minister of Health and your MP expressing your concerns. Click here for sample letters and contact information.
Encourage your patients, family members and friends to send a letter as well. Click here for sample letters.

What the OAND is Doing

Gathering, analyzing and providing Ontario NDs’ views about Bill C-51 to the CAND.
Collaborating wherever the CAND deems necessary to seek changes to Bill C-51.
Informing and lobbying the Ontario government on the importance of access to substances to NDs and their patients.
Keeping the public informed about Bill C-51 on our website and through the use of patient letters.
Providing our members with many options on how to express concerns about Bill C-51.

Please continue to share your views with the CAND and OAND about this important piece of legislation. We will keep the CAND informed about what we are hearing from all members. For more information or to share your views on this legislation or any other matter concerning the regulation of the profession, contact Michael Heitshu, Director of Policy at 416-233-2001 x27.

Launch of Process to Select Naturopathic Transition Council Members and New College Registrar

The Public Appointments Secretariat has launched the search process to identify both ND and public candidates for the Transition Council, and as well the transitional Registrar who will assist in the development of the future College of Naturopaths of Ontario.

The Transition Council is required to implement the new Naturopathy Act by establishing the College of Naturopaths of Ontario and the associated new rules for the profession. The Transition Council is appointed by the provincial government, and includes both NDs and public members.

Similar to the role of the profession’s current regulator, the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy - Naturopathy, the role of all members of the Transition Council is to represent the public interest in the regulation of the profession.

Click here to view the ad for Transition Council members and click here for the application form.

Click here to view the ad for the transitional Registrar; the job description will be available shortly.

It is expected that the transition process will be completed in 2010.

The Naturopathy Act represents an important opportunity to modernize the regulation of the profession. The OAND encourages members to consider applying to serve on transitional council. This is a significant process for the profession and we urge you to get involved!

Applications, quoting the appropriate file number, must be received by May 30, 2008, by: Public Appointments Secretariat, Room 2440, Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley St. W., Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1A1. Individuals may also apply online at the Public Appointments Secretariat's website at http://www.pas.gov.on.ca/scripts/en/appl_form.asp.

For assistance with applying for Transition Council, or to let us know about your interest in supporting OAND efforts to prepare for transition, please contact Alison Dantas, CEO at (416) 233-2001 ext. 23 or at adantas@oand.org or Michael Heitshu, Director of Policy a
t ext. 27 or policy@oand.org.

The New Naturopathy Act: What will the move to the RHPA mean for Ontario NDs?

Under the new Naturopathy Act, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) will become regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) rather than the Drugless Practitioners Act (DPA). The move to the RHPA means that NDs will join all other regulated health professions in a common legislative framework. Since the early 1990s, only NDs have been regulated outside of this framework.

The move to the RHPA, which should be completed in 2010, will introduce a number of changes to the regulation of NDs. Click here for full overview which provides background information on the RHPA, as well as recent changes the province has introduced to the RHPA.

OAND Welcomes Final Approval of Naturopathy Act

The OAND welcomes final approval of the Naturopathy Act. The changes introduced in the Naturopathy Act improve the regulation of NDs, offering important support and protection for the increasing number of Ontarians who are choosing complementary healthcare. More

To view the OAND's backgrounder, A Snapshot of Naturopathic Medicine in Ontario, click here.

More Protection, Choice and Improved Healthcare for Ontarians: OAND Comments on Health System Improvement Bill

Toronto (December 12, 2006) Ontarians can expect better access to high quality healthcare when the Health System Improvement Act comes into effect, according to the organization representing Ontario’s naturopathic doctors (NDs). The changes introduced in this bill will improve the regulation of NDs, offering important support and protection for Ontarians who choose complementary healthcare. More

To view the OAND's backgrounder, A Snapshot of Naturopathic Medicine in Ontario, click here.

Dr. Kuldip Kular MPP, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Opens OAND Convention

October 21, 2006 - Dr. Kuldip S. Kular, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long Term Care, delivered the opening address at the 2006 OAND Convention, Clinical Excellence in the 21st Century, at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, ON.

Dr. Kular addressed matters related to modern regulation of naturopathic medicine further to the May 2006 Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC) report that recommended naturopathic doctors – along with other specific health care professions – be brought under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). To view Dr. Kular's speech, click here.

Improved Regulation of Naturopathic Doctors and Naturopathic Medicine

For a decade, the OAND has lobbied each successive provincial government to improve the regulation of the naturopathic profession.

We are now very close to achieving that objective: on May 19, 2006, the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Committee (HPRAC) advised Ontario’s Minister of Health that naturopathic doctors and the practice of naturopathic medicine should be regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). More

Check back often for the latest news and information on association activities. Use the navigation on the left to view our news releases and learn more about our government affairs campaigns.