Update March 2023

Regulation Update

The regulation journey has been a long and challenging one for ACTA and the counselling professions. Legislation to regulate the counselling professions passed in 2018. This UCP Government committed to regulating the counselling professions and confirmed that ACTA should continue to grandparent the professions and prepare for the CCTA to open. All the work to prepare for regulation was completed by the Government and ACTA, and the package for proclamation was prepared. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the Government revoked its commitment in fall 2021. 

Our Success

Since fall 2021, ACTA has worked tirelessly to gain a re-commitment to regulation. While we still do not have a re-commitment, ACTA has had success in moving the Government to consider regulation again. They have stated that they will decide whether and how to proceed with regulation after they conduct further analysis and consultations.
 
The impact of ACTA members’ and public support and efforts over the last two years cannot be overstated. The advocacy of the public and members has been instrumental in keeping regulation in consideration with this Government. THANK YOU!!

Uncertainty Remains

The Government has not given a timeline for this work to start. They recently categorized the amount of additional work they wish to complete as “significant”. This is a change from their original messaging that this additional work was limited in scope and would not take long once started. They have not offered a clear explanation as to why the scope of additional work has expanded.
 
ACTA recognizes and accepts that they wish to do this additional work. What we want is for this work to start, in collaboration with ACTA, so that public protections are not stalled any longer than necessary.

Moving Forward

Government relations: ACTA is continuing to have conversations with this Government about what can be done to move this file forward, and we are hopeful that they will work collaboratively with ACTA in 2023 and consider solutions to allow the CCTA to open in the public interest.
 
Relationships with other stakeholders: ACTA is spending significant time investing in mutually beneficial and constructive relationships with our stakeholders. We continue to be a good partner to this government when they request our help with their initiatives, such as those related to health regulation, health service initiatives and professional ethics training. We are also investing in our relationships with other important partners and stakeholders, such as Indigenous communities, employers, agencies and post-secondary institutions.
 
For ACTA members: It is important for members to remain a part of ACTA. Without ACTA, it will be a significantly longer process for the professions to gain regulation in the future - the process may even need to start from near scratch. It took over 20 years to get to this point and we don’t want to lose any progress while we wait through this stall.
 
It is not unusual for many years to pass between a government commitment to regulate a profession and the opening of the regulator. This has happened with many other health professions and in other provinces as it relates to counselling therapy. Although we cannot guarantee anything, it is highly unlikely that Alberta will continue to be one of the only jurisdictions in North America that does not regulate counselling therapy.
 
We are doing everything we can to keep the costs of ACTA low, while remaining ready to regulate the professions. In the meantime, the ACTA Board is considering what it can do for members to stay engaged with ACTA during this prolonged period of Government delay. We have started by providing free educational seminars. Please share your feedback on what else we could offer that you would value.

Election on the Horizon

There will be a provincial election May 29, 2023. The outcome may provide opportunities to work with new individuals in Government leadership.
 
During this election period, ACTA is reducing its Government advocacy. After careful consideration, we realize that safety, access and affordability in mental health and addiction services will likely not receive the attention it deserves right now. It will likely get lost in the other issues that are being highlighted in political and public discourse leading up to the election. We are also responding to advice given to us by both Government and government relations experts, in terms of how to relationally reset to this Government if they enter a second term. We will examine resuming advocacy efforts once the election has passed, and the new Government is formed. 

What You Can Do During The Election Period

Use your voice during this democratic process - it is your right.

We encourage you to talk about the importance of regulation of the counselling professions when candidates, or their representatives, visit your home. Door knocking has started! Here are some things you can say:
 

  • Access, safety and affordability of mental health services in Alberta is important to me. It is important to me because (use your own words to explain safety, access and affordability issues from your experience).

  • Regulation of the counselling professionals will provide Albertans with access, safety and affordability in mental health services at no cost to the Government.

  • Legislation to regulate counselling professionals was passed in 2018. However, the Government has stalled the proclamation of the legislation. I would like the stalling to end, and want to know what you will do to help get the legislation proclaimed and the counselling professions regulated.

 
If they talk about other things their party will do or has done for mental health, you can say:
 

  • That is a good start. However, without regulation, Albertans are still unnecessarily exposed to harm and are being denied access and affordability at a time when we have never needed it more. I want to know that this will finally get this done for Albertans.  Will you and your party support regulation of the counselling professions?

 
If they make a commitment to support regulation, let ACTA know so we can follow up with them if they are elected.
 
If they say that they will follow up with you at a later date, you can:

  • Ask for the candidate’s campaign email address so you can follow up with them directly, or for the campaign office phone number, or both.  

 
Other points you can raise in conversation:
 

  • There is tremendous support for regulation:

    • Nearly 100% support in the public consultation conducted by Alberta Health in 2021.  

    • 8500+ letters of support from the Alberta public.

    • The federal non-insured health benefits program has recently publicly confirmed that access to affordable mental health services to indigenous people in Alberta will increase with regulation of Counselling Therapists.

    • The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, representing 99% of Canada's life and health insurance business, wrote a public letter to this government in support of regulation as it will increase safety, access and affordability for Albertans.

    • Post secondaries in Alberta have written to this government to express their support and the need for regulation from their perspective.

    • 85 Employers of Counselling Therapists (large employers as well as small, community based employers) in Alberta have also written to this government to express their support and the need for regulation from their perspective.

    • The Rural Municipalities Association, representing 69 rural municipalities in Alberta, has written to this government to request that they regulate counselling in order to increase safety and access to affordable mental health services in rural Alberta.

  • This government says that issues have been raised by First Nations and a few service providers. These issues are resolvable by working collaboratively with the Association Counselling Therapy of Alberta and the parties. Sadly, nothing has been done to resolve these issues over the last 2 years.

Nicole Imgrund