OneChiropractic launches fund-raising campaign against Health Professions and Occupations Act

OneChiropractic has launched a fund-raising campaign to counteract British Columbia’s Bill 36, now called the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA).

Passed in November of 2022, the HPOA has been controversial since its inception, with many healthcare professionals concerned it gives the government too much control over providers and patients, and that it passed without enough public input considering its far-reaching effects.

The bill, first proposed by Minister of Health Adrian Dix, is intended to replace the existing Health Professions Act.

“These changes will streamline the process to regulate new health professions, provide stronger oversight, provide more consistent discipline across the professions, act in the public interest and protect patient care in the province, while also laying the groundwork to further reduce the total number of regulatory colleges,” Dix stated in an October 2022 media release.

Delayed enforcement of the Health Professions and Occupations Act

While the Health Professions and Occupations Act has been passed into law, the enforcement of it has come in stages, the Ministry of Health explained in this December 2o update.

A recent OneChiropractic press release notes that the HPOA redefines essential services and enforces penalties for non-compliance for DCs, including immediate loss of license, closure of practices, fines of up to $200,000, and up to two years in jail. The release further noted that under the provisions of the HPOA, anonymous complaints can lead to the suspension of a DC’s license before an investigation is complete, and also stated that political appointees can seize records and access facilities without a warrant or court order; that refusal to accept all government-mandated vaccines and therapies could result in de-licensure, and that the advisory boards of the regulatory colleges will be comprised entirely of government appointees.

The Canadian government offers additional information and addresses some of these concerns here.

Under the HPOA, the regulatory colleges that previously regulated DCs, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists and practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine will be combined; the regulatory colleges of other healthcare professionals will also be amended as the HPOA is fully implemented.

OneChiropractic founder and executive director Bharon Hoag said, “Bill 36 was a blatant assault on all healthcare providers. Bill 36 is one of the largest and most impactful bills ever passed in British Columbia without allowing the public their democratic right to a fully debated and considered bill.”

Hoag continued, “We cannot let this stand. The essence of chiropractic care and the autonomy of our profession are at stake. We need your immediate support to challenge the implementation of this bill and advocate for the rights of chiropractors across Canada. Although this is a British Columbia issue now, this will be a Canadian issue if it is allowed to stand.”

The Chiropractic Defense Council (CDC), which comes under OneChiropractic, has assembled a legal team in Canada to challenge the enforcement of Bill 36. In conjunction with other advocacy groups in BC, the CDC aims to adopt new language to the bill to reduce or eliminate the current mandates. The OneChiropractic legal team will also offer cease-and-desist letters to protect those impacted.

In the OneChiropractic press release, Hoag urges DCs and supporters to make a one-time donation to the CDC or purchase a CDC membership. “If we do not grow our contributors and stand firm against Bill 36, this will come to every province in Canada.”

The CDC has supported the interests of DCs in Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. OneChiropractic and the CDC raised over $4 million at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to fight for the rights of DCs worldwide. Every case had a successful outcome, with 700 cases to date.

For more information about the Health Professions and Occupations Act and OneChiropractic’s efforts surrounding it, visit onechiropractic.com.