May 27, 2025
At Queens Park, MPP France Gélinas took time to wish the entire physiotherapy community a very happy National Physiotherapy Month, along with OPA CEO Sarah Hutchison.
CPO General Regulation Consultation – Removal of Provisional Practice Class
June 10, 2025
The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario recently closed a consultation on proposed changes to the general regulation, including removal of the provisional practice certificate class.
OPA reviewed the proposed changes, collected feedback from the physiotherapy community, and submitted a response to the College. In our response, we highlighted risks and challenges with removing the provisional practice class, including health human resource implications, challenges for internationally educated physiotherapists, equity and accessibility of a single examination, and the need for emergency preparedness and response protocols.
Meeting with Premier Doug Ford & Minister of Health Sylvia Jones
May 8, 2025
On May 8, President Courtney Bean joined Isaac Taylor, Physiotherapist to meet with Premier Ford and Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, advocating and engaging on issues that really matter to the profession. This meeting provided the opportunity to talk about how physiotherapists can make an impact on ER wait times, the role of first contact physiotherapists in expanding access to primary care, integrated community care and transitions between hospital and home, and of course of critical importance – expanding scope of practice for physiotherapists across Ontario.
Minister Jones heard and understood the priority of the profession in advancing Scope of Practice in Ontario and we remain optimistic that this will progress to implementation over the course of the summer. We want to thank Minister Jones for acknowledging National Physiotherapy Month and thanking PTs for their contributions to the Ontario health system.
At OPA, this opportunity is core to our mission and our commitment to influence and shape decisions that affect the profession and the patients you treat across the province.
Jordan’s Principle – What Ontario Physiotherapists Need to Know
June 17, 2025
If you work with First Nations children, you may have experienced the frustration of months spent waiting for contract renewals, compensation delays, and approval processes that seem to change without notice; administrative backlogs preventing First Nations children from accessing the physiotherapy services they need.
This goes against everything Jordan’s Principle was designed to address, and OPA has developed a position statement advocating for reform to the processes that create systemic barriers.
Who Was Jordan?
Jordan River Anderson “was a member of the Norway House Cree Nation. Born in Manitoba on October 22, 1999, he lived with a rare genetic disorder that required intensive medical care” (Canada’s Residential Schools: The Legacy, 2015).
At age two, he was medically cleared to go home with support services. But the federal and provincial governments couldn’t agree on who should pay for his care. Jordan waited in the hospital for three more years, dying at age five without ever spending a day at home, not because he was too sick to leave, but because of a funding dispute.
What Jordan’s Principle Means
Jordan’s story led to the creation of Jordan’s Principle in 2007, a human rights principle “that guarantees timely access for status and non-status First Nations children to all public services without delay due to jurisdictional disputes, and comparable services to those provided to non-First Nations children.” (Canada’s Residential Schools: The Legacy, 2015)
The Current Reality
Despite this principle, OPA continues to hear from rehabilitation providers who struggle with:
- Contract renewals dragging on for months
- Administrative backlogs preventing timely access to care
- Compensation delays
- Lack of clear communication about how issues will be resolved
These challenges directly impact the First Nations children and families who depend on physiotherapy services.
What OPA Is Doing
Recognizing these challenges, OPA has developed a position statement advocating for improved Jordan’s Principle processes.
With Indigenous Services Canada committed to reforming the administration, OPA is pushing for:
- Reduced systemic barriers that prevent access to physiotherapy services
- Culturally safe service delivery with collaborative community co-design
- Continuity of care through longer-term contracts with trusted partners
- Increased administrative capacity with transparency to address backlogs
- Recognition of physiotherapy as essential preventive and early intervention care
Why This Matters
Jordan’s Principle addresses barriers and biases that create gaps in service access for Indigenous children. When administrative obstacles prevent First Nations children from getting needed physiotherapy, we perpetuate health disparities rooted in historical policies and systemic biases.
As physiotherapists, your expertise helps children overcome physical challenges and participate fully in their communities. Prompt access to physiotherapy prevents complications, reduces pain and dysfunction, and enables children to return to school, play, and home activities with improved function.
Moving Forward
Work to improve the implementation of Jordan’s Principle continues. First Nations children require timely access to the same quality of care available to other Canadian children. As physiotherapists, you play a crucial role in supporting improved access to care.
OPA continues to support and advocate for physiotherapists working in this area, ensuring that systemic improvements benefit both practitioners and patients. Learn more about Jordan’s Principle
Reference
Canada’s Residential Schools: The Legacy. (2015). The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Volume 5. McGill-Queen’s University Press. https://core.ac.uk/download/480182666.pdf
Courtney Bean, OPA’s President Message – March 2025
March 26, 2025
Watch Courtney Bean, Physiotherapist and OPA’s President share highlights from InterACTION 2025. InterACTION is OPA’s annual conference, bringing together physiotherapists, physiotherapy residents, physiotherapist assistants and students from across the province.
CPO Update on New National Physiotherapy Exam
April 2, 2025
As a new national physiotherapy exam is being developed by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR), the Board of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario has discussed the possibility of adopting this exam, most recently at the College’s Board meeting on March 24 & 25, 2025.
The College’s Board stated their intention to adopt the new national physiotherapy exam from CAPR, provided that there are clear and appropriate transition plans and service contracts. Adopting the new national exam means that the path to registration will include only a single exam.
CAPR will begin administering the new single, national exam in January 2026. The College is committed to continue offering the Ontario Clinical Exam (OCE) until March 2026 or longer if needed. The College is committed to ensuring a smooth transition that supports all candidates in the path to registration.
The College has identified that more details will be clear at the end of May 2025, and will communicate them to the physiotherapy community as soon as possible. Please see their website for more details and to leave a comment.
Meaningful Conversations with PT Students at Queen’s
This week, Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA) President Courtney Bean and CEO Sarah Hutchison were joined by representatives from the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, including Craig Roxborough, Registrar, and Mary Catherine Fraser Saxena, Manager, Practice Advice, for a timely and meaningful conversation with second-year physiotherapy students at Queen’s University as they complete their program.
The discussion focused on the future of physiotherapy practice and the important role that both the professional association and regulatory college play in supporting new graduates. From mentorship and advocacy to career resources and continuing education, each organization shared ways they help early-career professionals thrive.
We are always inspired by the commitment and passion that drives our future physiotherapy leaders and thank Patrick Cayen for the invitation.
Scope of Practice & Labour Mobility
May 7, 2025
OPA applauds MPP France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) for her strong comments in the Ontario Legislative Assembly on April 30, 2025, in support of implementing outstanding scope of practice elements for physiotherapists. As a physiotherapist herself, Mme Gélinas knows the beneficial impacts of PTs gaining the authority to order diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests.
Mme Gélinas said:
“Back in December of 2009, we voted in this House in favour of changes to the scope of practice of physiotherapists. Why? Because the scope of practice in other provinces had changed. It was time for Ontario to do the same … we are in 2025 and those changes have not been implemented.”
Her comments were in response to Bill 2, the Ontario Free Trade and Mobility Act, 2025, which would allow workers registered in other Canadian jurisdictions to work ‘as of right.’ Currently, only certain healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical lab technologists) are included; Bill 2 proposes adding physiotherapists to this list.
OPA’s submission on Bill 2 supports improved ease of PTs across Canadian jurisdictions, while also highlighting how the implementation of outstanding scope of practice changes, specifically the authority for PTs to order diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests, must be completed to prevent a drain of PTs from Ontario to other jurisdictions with fewer limitations in scope.
Mme Gélinas raised the same concerns as OPA and spoke powerfully on the risks of PTs moving to other provinces and territories if scope of practice is not harmonized across Canada. She spoke to the competencies of physiotherapists in relation to ordering diagnostic tests, to the success of other jurisdictions that have streamlined the process, the benefits to patients, and the improved access, especially for people without a primary care physician or NP.
For the full text of France Gélinas’ comments, see the Hansard transcript of the OLA for April 30, 2025, pages 238-240.
OPA Response to CPO Consultation on Boundaries and Sexual Abuse
May 31, 2025
The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario recently closed a public consultation on two new proposed Standards of Practice: Boundary Violations and Sexual Abuse.
OPA submitted a response to this consultation.