REGULATION
Timeline
2025
June – Communication from the RMTSMB to the Ministers’ Office regarding concerns of the current process not meeting the ethical requirements set out by the office itself. Clear contradictions in communication and access to information to all affected associations and educational institutions is not consistent and therefore does not provide equal representation. Currently waiting on requested response.
May – Applications from the Minister of Health Seniors and Long Term Care to apply to the Transitional Counsel were invited from associations and massage therapy schools. Selection and appointments will occur over 90 days through Manitoba Agencies, Boards and Commissions.
2003
Province of Manitoba begins a six-year review process to prepare for the introduction of a Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) that protects Manitobans who receive health care treatments and treats all health care professions on a uniform and standard basis.
2009
Manitoba passes the RHPA but the Act is not proclaimed. Twenty-two health professions are identified for a ‘Transition’ process to the new Act from their current regulations. Two professions are identified as potential applicants—Massage Therapists and Paramedics.
2011
Sections of the Act are proclaimed establishing an Advisory Committee to the Minister of Health, which as part of its mandate will receive applications for self-regulation.
2012
Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba (MTAM) submits the application for review. National Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) opposes it.
2015
Under the advice of the Advisory Committee, the Minister grants the application for self-regulation of the Massage Therapy profession. Rather than recommend to the Lieutenant Governor that Massage Therapy be designated as a regulated health profession, as is standard, the Minister orders MTAM and NHPC to collaborate on a report to address core issues related to self-regulation.
2016
MTAM and NHPC submit the report as requested by the Minister.
A decision on Massage Therapy is placed behind the decision on regulation of Paramedics.
2018
Paramedicine is designated a regulated health profession under the RHPA. The Massage Therapy profession continues to wait.
2019
The Minister gives MTAM and NHPC an assignment—create a draft Regulation Workbook, which policy makers will use as a base to determine how regulation will function under the RHPA.
2020
MTAM and NHPC submit the draft Regulation Workbook as requested by the Minister.
2021
The draft Regulation Workbook remains under review. RMTSMB continues to be an expert voice working in RMTs’ best interests to ensure Massage Therapy becomes an official part of the regulatory environment in Manitoba.
