Actions in progress

Review and streamline how healthcare professionals prescribe new drugs

Status: Action in progress

What we heard

The process by which drugs are added to each profession’s drug list is lengthy and does not clearly outline the benefit for the patient. This results in increased burden for these professionals by limiting/delaying the services they can provide to their clients as they do not have access to up to date treatments/therapies.

Our plan

In fall 2017, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will implement a patient-centred and evidence-based approach for evaluating all requests for changes to scope of practice (e.g., expansion of drug lists) called the Model for the Evaluation of Scopes of Practice in Ontario (MESPO).

The ministry will start by prioritizing outstanding items that were part of the Regulated Health Professions Statute Law Amendment Act, 2009 or Bill 179. Other scope of practice expansion requests will follow once the first group of professional scopes of practice evaluations have been completed.

Specific to requests for expanding drugs that a profession may prescribe, the MESPO framework:

  • prioritizes patient needs and system needs rather than professional priorities
  • protects patients by using a transparent, rigorous evidence based approach that includes an evaluation component
  • leads to higher quality submissions and enables consistent and timely response to requests

Actions tracking

Review Travel Industry Council of Ontario reporting requirements and processes

Status: Action tracking

What we heard

The process to file financial statements with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario is costly and difficult for businesses.

Our plan

Ontario is taking steps to reduce regulatory burden for travel businesses. Legislation was introduced in the fall of 2017 that, if passed, would allow regulations to be developed to reduce financial reporting-related burden for small travel businesses.

For example, regulations, once developed, could specify that travel agents and wholesalers who have under $2M in annual sales would be able to submit internally prepared financial statements to the Travel Industry Council of Ontario instead of a Review Engagement Report prepared by a licensed accountant. This change would mean a reduction in cost and difficulty in preparing and submitting financial reporting requirements. Regulatory amendments may also be made to reduce the thresholds for financial reporting requirements for larger travel agents and wholesalers that would better reflect inflationary increases and growth in the travel industry.

The proposed changes are based on a comprehensive review of the Travel Industry Act that included input from the public and travel industry stakeholders. The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services will continue to consult with the public and travel industry stakeholders on the development of regulatory amendments.

Work with Transport Canada to explore small batch automotive manufacturing

Status: Action tracking

What we heard

There are no clear rules to support the manufacture of small batches of vehicles in Ontario. As a result, small companies face steep barriers to entering the market, while larger companies face challenges in developing and testing new products on a smaller scale. This makes it difficult for Ontario’s auto industry to adopt greener, electric vehicle technologies and hampers economic development in the industry.

Our plan

The Ministry of Economic Development and Growth and the Ministry of Transportation will work with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Transport Canada to create a federal regulatory framework for small batch vehicle production that would draw on best practices from other locales.  It is anticipated that a pilot version of this framework could be in place by the end of 2018.