On May 11, 2026, the Ministry of Health announced a broad series of scope‑of‑practice expansions for several regulated health professions as part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care. These changes are intended to improve access, reduce wait times, and strengthen system capacity by enabling health professionals to work to the full extent of their training.

The announcement included immediate expansions for pharmacists and direction to several other regulatory colleges to begin developing frameworks for future scope enhancements, including activities such as ordering diagnostic imaging, administering local anesthetic, and performing diagnostic ultrasound.

Shortly after this announcement, the Ministry issued two communications regarding chiropody and podiatry. In these letters, addressed to the College of Chiropodists of Ontario and copied to the OSC, the Ministry confirmed that it will not be proceeding with the proposed diagnostic imaging expansion for chiropodists at this time. In a separate letter, also addressed to the College and copied to the OSC, the Ministry indicated that it is maintaining the current chiropody model while it continues to assess system‑wide priorities, fiscal considerations, and workforce planning needs. 

While this outcome is disappointing, it is important to understand it within the broader health‑system context. The Ministry’s recent communications reflect a cautious approach to legislative and regulatory changes in sectors with complex histories and inter‑professional dynamics. This decision does not reflect a judgment on the competencies of chiropodists or podiatrists, nor does it diminish the essential role our profession plays in preventing complications, reducing emergency department visits, and supporting chronic disease management.

Practitioners in Ontario, including Ontario‑trained chiropodists, legacy podiatrists, and those trained in other jurisdictions, possess the competencies to safely deliver a broad range of foot and lower‑limb care. In several other provinces, regulatory frameworks have been modernized to reflect these competencies, allowing practitioners to work to their full scope of their training. Ontario’s framework has simply not yet caught up.

The Ministry’s message reinforces the importance of clarity, alignment, and a stable regulatory foundation before any future legislative change can be considered. This is the context in which the OSC continues its work.

Our Ontario Podiatric Competency Framework (OPCF) is being developed to support a responsible, evidence‑based, and RHPA‑aligned approach to future modernization. While full modernization, including one title, one class, and scope alignment with other provinces, will ultimately require legislative change, the OPCF is intended to provide the clarity and structure needed to support that long‑term work. We look forward to sharing more with the profession as this work continues to develop.

The OSC remains committed to advancing this work collaboratively and constructively. We will continue to:

• strengthen public protection by advocating for clear, competency‑based standards
• support labour mobility and national alignment
• ensure Ontario’s regulatory framework reflects the training and expertise of its practitioners
• maintain constructive relationships with the Ministry and the College, participating in consultations and providing submissions when opportunities arise

Our profession has always demonstrated resilience, professionalism, and a deep commitment to patient care. These qualities matter now more than ever. The OSC will continue to advocate for a modern, unified, and sustainable framework for foot and lower‑limb care in Ontario, one that reflects who we are today and what Ontarians need from us tomorrow.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the patients and communities we serve.

Sincerely,

Sasha Kozera‑Faye, BSc, DCh  

President, Ontario Society of Chiropodists

A Note on Staying Connected

If you are not currently an OSC member, we welcome you to stay connected with us. Under OSC bylaws, membership is open to all chiropodists and podiatrists registered to practise in Ontario, as well as eligible practitioners from other jurisdictions who meet the criteria outlined in the bylaws. The work ahead requires a strong, informed, and unified professional community, and we are committed to supporting every practitioner in navigating this evolving landscape. 

If you would like to join or re‑join the OSC, or if you have questions about membership, please feel free to reach out at any time.