By letter dated June 28, 2007, the Minister of Health and Long-Term
Care (George Smitherman) asked the Health Professions Regulatory 
Advisory Council (HPRAC) to

    "Review issues relating to the regulation of chiropody and podiatry 
     and provide advice as to whether and how there should be changes to 
     existing legislation regarding these related professions.  Include in 
     your review an analysis of the current model of foot care in Ontario,
     the issues regarding restricted titles, and whether the existing.
     limitations on the podiatrist class of members should continue."

    This, of course, is in response to the College's request for a
referral in February 2006 and represents a very major opportunity for
the podiatry profession in Ontario.

    The OPMA has recommended that the College immediately create a
working group consisting of representatives from the College, the OPMA 
and the OSC in order to help coordinate the substantial amount of work 
that must be done by the three organizations, particularly by the 
College.

    The HPRAC review process will probably be spread over about one year 
and consist of the following major steps:

      a. Consultation with the organizations directly concerned i.e. 
         the College, the OPMA and the OSC.
      b. Preparation of written submissions by the organizations 
         directly concerned.
      c. Independent research by HPRAC (e.g. situations in other 
         jurisdictions).
      d. Invitation to all stakeholders and interested parties to make
         submissions and/or presentations to HPRAC.
      e. Development of initial position by HPRAC.
      f. Final round of consultations with College, OPMA, OSC,etc.
      g. Submission of final report with recommendations to Minister.


    Thereafter, the Minister (whoever that may be at the time) will have 
to make a decision as to what to do with the HPRAC recommendations.  
Since the nature of the recommendations would require major statutory 
changes, a Bill would have to be introduced in the Legislature and go 
through the normal legislative process in order to implement whatever 
the Minister decides.  The legislative process could take anywhere from 
six months to several years depending on the complexity of the 
legislation and the other matters that are on the legislative timetable 
at the same time.