Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators Board of Directors Nomination
Joyce Vogelgesang was nominated as the Alberta representative to the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators Board of Directors.
Election Scrutineer
June Norris was appointed as the scrutineer for the 2021 election.
Finances
The audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020 were approved. The financial statements will be included in the 2020 Annual Report.
Appointments
Grant Irwin and Adriana Koziak have been appointed to the Registration Committee for a 3-year term.
In the absence of Jane McKenzie, Hearings Director, Haylee O’Reilly is appointed as the Hearings Director. This appointment will only be utilized when it is an absolute necessity to meet statutory obligations and will not be utilized for convenience.
Patient Relations Program
The patient relations program was approved by council and describes how the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta will meet the requirements of Part 8.2 of the Health Professions Act. A patient relations program must include measures for preventing and addressing sexual abuse of and sexual misconduct towards patients by regulated members and requires mandatory education of all regulated members.
Bill 46 Mandated Separation of College and Association
In December 2020, the Government of Alberta passed legislation mandating the separation of regulatory colleges and associations. The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta will be moving to a single mandate regulatory college as required by legislation. As part of this transition, the Council of the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta is committed to providing the necessary building blocks for an independent professional association for physiotherapists in Alberta to be developed and successfully launched. This will be best supported through a comprehensive plan of necessary work, active project management and inaugural board support. Halford Consulting will be assisting the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta to prepare for the many changes in 2021 including preparation for a successful launch of an independent association.
In the coming month, there will be a call for the Expression of Interest for individuals interested in serving on the Inaugural Board Committee of an independent association.
Clinical Research Innovation Fund
The Clinical Research Innovation Fund (CRIF) will be discontinued this year. CRIF is a research grant opportunity that has been made possible through a partnership between TD Meloche Monnex, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta, and the University of Alberta’s Department of Physical Therapy with great success over the years. The TD Meloche Monnex Affinity agreement dates back to an agreement that initiated with the Alberta Physiotherapy Association prior to 2009. With recent legislative changes, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta will be required to devolve itself of all member service functions including this agreement. The funds received from this agreement this current year will be used to prepare for the launch of an independent association.
Discrimination, Oppression, and Inequity in Physiotherapy Advisory Committee
Council approved the terms of reference for a discrimination, oppression and inequity in Physiotherapy Advisory Committee. This committee is intended to center the voices of historically marginalized communities and inform the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta’s work of addressing discrimination and inequity within physiotherapy and the greater health system.
