The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is seeking feedback from stakeholders and the public on proposed amendments to the Health and Social Services Professions Act (HSSPA). Amendments aim to align the Northwest Territories with best practices across Canada, providing clear guidelines for both practitioners and patients. 

The HSSPA seeks to bring all Department of Health and Social Services regulated professionals under one comprehensive regulatory framework. 

Key proposed amendments include:

• Allowing the Registrar of Health and Social Services Professions (Registrar) to refer registration decisions to a Registration Committee as needed.
• Requiring employers to report unprofessional conduct by a registered member to the Complaints Officer.
• Requiring the Registrar to notify employers if a registered member’s licence is suspended, cancelled, or if conditions have been placed on their licence.
• Requiring the Registrar to inform regulatory bodies in other Canadian jurisdictions if a member’s licence is suspended, cancelled, or if conditions have been placed on their licence.
• Allowing the Registrar to approve continuing competency programs, recording formats, guidelines, standards of practice, and codes of ethics.
• Allowing the Minister of Health and Social Services to direct the Registrar to register and issue licences during a state of emergency.
• Allowing the Registrar to impose conditions on a licence at initial registration without limitations.
• Allowing a health or social services profession to apply to self-regulate.

Stakeholders and the public are invited to review the discussion paper and provide feedback by emailing dhssacts_feedback@gov.nt.ca. For more details on these proposed changes, and to access the discussion paper, click the link below: 

• Have Your Say: Proposed Amendments to Health and Social Services Professions Act

The deadline for feedback is August 30, 2024.

For media requests, please contact:

Andrew Wind
Manager, Communications 
Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories 
Andrew_Wind@gov.nt.ca
(867) 767-9052 ext. 49034