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.