Regulating in the Gaps: Protecting the Public in the Absence of Regulatory Tools

Join CNAR’s April 24th Regulatory Roundtable virtual session on regulating in the gaps - exploring how regulators protect the public when existing tools fall short.

In the post-pandemic era, regulators are challenged by the rapid pace of change in professional practice as well as in unregulated practice. How do we regulate the unknown?

This Regulatory Roundtable will feature a panel from regulators of different professions who will discuss their approaches to regulating where the law provides little or no path through the wilderness and they have to create their own tools to forge a trail. The panelists will explore issues arising from:

• New and emerging areas of practice, services, or therapies. Some of these may be potentially dangerous and there are questions about their effectiveness and whether they are controlled acts that are to be regulated.

• Systems under strain with people seeking care or services from unauthorized practitioners that can result in devastating outcomes. 

In their discussion of these issues, the panelists will share different approaches to how their organizations are finding ways to protect the public by regulating through the gaps. Approaches and tools include drawing on existing standards and legislation, leveraging relationships with registrants and other groups, and building awareness of the issues among the public, registrants, and others.

Panelists are:

• JT Michaelis Beck, Legal Counsel, British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)

• Kelly Dobbin, Registrar & CEO, College of Midwives of Ontario (CMO)

• Zimra Yetnikoff, Deputy Registrar/Director, Investigations & Hearings, College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO)

The conversation will be facilitated by Robin McKechney, Partner, Gowling WLG. 

This event is free to all CNAR members and $50 for non-members. 

Date: April 24, 2025

Time: 1:00 PM ET – 2:00 PM ET

Venue: Zoom (link to be sent out prior to event)