COTO Consults on Proposed Bylaw Amendments - Deadline May 22, 2017

The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) has released proposed bylaw amendments for registrant consultation. Amendments relate to: 

  • expanding information OTs are required to provide to the College;
  • making additional information publicly available about OTs; 
  • deleting the removal provisions relating to SCERPS, undertakings, & cautions-in-person of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee; 
  • revising the professional liability insurance requirements; and 
  • adjusting the College's registration year and fee structure.

View Consultation document and detailed proposed bylaw amendments.​

The deadline for feedback is midnight May 22, 2017.

As a result of member enquiries, the College has issued a document to clarify rationale related to the proposed amendments to Part 16 – Information to be Provided by Registrants.  View here.  Further, the College has referred registrants to information on Fitness to Practice provisions.  

Some of the proposed amendments stem from issues directed in the proposed Bill 87, The Protecting Patients Act, 2016 which addresses a number of provisions including provisions to strengthen and reinforce Ontario’s zero tolerance policy on sexual abuse of patients by any regulated health professional. The Protecting Patients Act, 2016 includes legislative amendments that would, if passed:

  • Expand the list of acts of sexual abuse that will result in the mandatory revocation of a regulated health professional's license
  • Remove the ability of a regulated health professional to continue to practice on patients of a specific gender after an allegation or finding of sexual abuse
  • Increase access to patient therapy and counselling as soon as a complaint of sexual abuse by a regulated health professional is filed
  • Ensure that all relevant information about regulated health professionals' current and past conduct is available to the public in an easy-to-access and transparent way.
Implications for Occupational Therapists

All OTs registered to practice in the province of Ontario should take time to review and consider the implications of the proposed bylaw amendments of the College.  These changes will impact each registrant and will become governing practices.

Take opportunity to participate in the online consultation survey – identifying your comments, any concerns, questions or areas that are unclear to you.  The deadline for response is May 22nd.

PLEASE FORWARD A COPY OF YOUR RESPONSE TO OSOT OR COMMUNICATE ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE TO INFORM OSOT’S RESPONSE.