City of Calgary Changes Massage Bylaw & Adopts NHPC’s Collaborative Model

Over the past several months, NHPC has been in discussions with the City of Calgary on the revision of their "Massage Bylaw" and had proposed that the City of Calgary adopt NHPC's "collaborative model". In the past, NHPC members have been lumped in the same category as exotic dancers and escorts when applying for business licenses.

The NHPC's "collaborative model" has now been passed by Calgary City Council, meaning that NHPC members in Calgary, AB, will no longer be licensed in the same way as exotic dancers and escorts.

This is very exciting news for NHPC and its members, because it means that the City of Calgary has trusted NHPC to validate authenticity of its members as qualified health care professionals. Because NHPC has requirements to become a member, including a detailed application, criminal record check, graduation from a recognized school or program, and mandatory compliance with the Continued Competency Program (CCP), it is in the position to qualify members as healthcare professionals.

Details on the new bylaw are currently being worked out between the NHPC and the City of Calgary.

Background
The Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) works with municipal administrators and elected officials to ensure the advancement of professions represented by the NHPC.

NHPC has been proposing that municipalities across Canada adopt a "Collaborative Model for Business Licensing of Natural Health Care". This municipal "collaborative model" provides the best possible public protection by capturing the recognition of all professionals working as natural health practitioners—including those who are members of a regulatory college and those who are members of a municipally recognized professional association.

Additionally, as it should be, the "collaborative model" removes municipalities from the responsibility of "credentialing" professionals and places that responsibility with regulatory bodies or associations.

For more information, contact Kathy Watson by email at kwatson@nhpcanada.org or by phone at 780-484-2010 or (toll-free) 1-888-711-7701.

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