Doctor Class Consultation

June 10, 2024

CTCMPAO has shared an open consultation regarding Doctor class on May 17, and the deadline is coming up on June 17, 2024. Whether or not you plan on pursuing the title, your feedback is important because the Doctor class will significantly improve the acceptance of TCM as a modality in Ontario. 

However, upon review of the consultation process, there are noticeable amounts of barrier and bias in the survey, making it difficult for members to provide meaningful feedback. 

Here are some of the key points that you may also wish to share when you provide your feedback to the College:

Issues with the consultation process: 

  1. Survey is too long (64 questions), and there is no saving functionality. This discourages a lot of members from completing the survey.
  2. Documentation is too long (51 pages). Members are not able to find the time for detailed review of this document.
  3. Limited time for feedback (30 days). Allowing one month to solicit feedback is limiting given members need to find time to review the document AND to complete the survey.

With regards to the documentation and appendix

  1. Qualifying competencies seem to be detailed and reasonable.
  2. Appendix A: Path two – Note: specifies that after 4 years of the proclamation of = Doctor title (the title becoming available for registration), candidates will have to officially complete a TCM “degree” to qualify for the Doctor title. Currently, there is no TCM degree offered in Canada (everyone being trained in Canada is on the diploma system and it will likely be the case for many years to come). This would mean that future candidates that are trained in Canada will likely not qualify for this title, which is potentially detrimental to the profession. 
  3. Appendix A: Path one (existing R. TCMP to pursue the Dr. designation) – Prerequisite #2 may limit people that never received 2 years of undergraduate education or equivalent to receive the title – this may require further clarification from the college on what is “equivalent”. 
  4. Many instances mention “bridging program approved by CTCMPAO, and offered by a government-approved academic institution”, the mention of government-approved is unclear whether or not another layer of work is needed before members can find an approved bridging program. 

We strongly recommend for all of our members to take action because all of your voices count. How to take action?

Speaking To The Government, AGM, Board Elections

April 22, 2022

Are you concerned with the challenges our profession faced in March? Are you worried about how little the government knows about TCM? If you’re looking for guidance on how to approach this situation, join the “Speaking to Government” training session on April 26th. You’ll gain insights into how to approach your local MPP’s constituency office, effective lobbying, engaging your MPP during this election cycle, and delivering “the TCM 30-second pitch”. Plus, there will be time for questions and answers. Register now and don’t miss this important event. 

When: Tuesday, April 26th
Register in advance: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/322141151857
Time: 7:30-8:30 PM

Update From The Coalition
Read the details Coalition to Stop the Repeal of the TCM Act pdf


Do you want to serve on the TCMO Board?

Do you want to be a volunteer Board of Directors for TCMO?
Email board@tcmo.ca if you are interested in nominating yourself. If you want to nominate someone else, make sure that person is willing and knows about the nomination. Please note that potential Board members must be professional members of TCMO and their membership must be paid up. The deadline for nominations is May 15th at 5 pm.


Join us for our Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting is coming up soon, and we hope you can join us! This year, we are offering both an in-person and virtual option to make it easier for everyone to attend. At the meeting, you will be able to hear a presentation about our Annual and Financial Reports, as well as Board member elections. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what we accomplished last year and what we have planned for the future. Register now to attend the meeting and receive more details via email. We look forward to seeing you there!

When: Wednesday, June 15th
Register in advance: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/annual-general-meeting-tickets-325140492967
Time: 1-3 pm


Are you interested in supporting TCMO?

Are you interested in supporting TCMO? Join as a TCMO member today, get regular updates, participate in the upcoming AGM and network with other professionals in Ontario.  

Crisis for our Profession: Averted

March 22, 2022

Just a few short weeks ago, we all received notification from the CTCMPAO that our professions would be deregulated and the College would be wound down. That day was Monday, February 28th, it was 6 pm. In just a few short hours, TCMO went to work, tirelessly researching, investigating, and planning our next steps.

And, many in our profession picked up the challenge and sat down at their keyboards, in front of zoom calls, organizing, motivating and reaching out. This became a large group, the Coalition to Stop the Repeal of the TCM Act, united in our focus and mission to encourage the Government to reverse its
decision, as well as to more fully and completely consult with the College and all stakeholders including members of the professions (both R.Ac. and R.TCMP) as well as members of the public and TCM healthcare patients.

Members of the TCMO Executive and Board stepped up, offered support to the Coalition, added website links and resources and started a GoFundMe page. Along with members of TCMO, we encouraged the public to get involved, we wrote letters to MPP’s, signed petitions both online and in hardcopy, and participated in community zoom calls.

TCMO re-activated the government relations (GR) firm, already familiar with this Association, it was straightforward for the firm to pivot to representing the interests of the larger Coalition to provincial government, MPP’s and staff.

Mid-day Tuesday, March 1st, on behalf of the Coalition, Heather Kenny, your TCMO President gave the first media interview to Queen’s Park (QP) today. QP Today would break this story to the media, and this story would go on to form the foundation of national wire coverage of the issue.

Over just 3 days, not only was a press conference organized, but countless professionals offered countless interviews, to print media, television media and radio stations, MPP’s broached the issue in the Legislature, and late on Thursday, March 3rd , the Government announced that Bill 88 would be
referred to Committee.

And yet, the Coalition did not give up. The press conference went ahead on Friday, a quiet peaceful protest was organized for Monday at Queen’s Park, and work on this issue continued throughout the weekend.

Good news was heard on the following Monday, March 7th , just one week after its’ introduction, when it was announced that the Schedule that would have repealed the TCM Act was going to be removed from the Bill. The Coalition, schools, volunteers, TCMO, and the GR firm remained vigilant over the next days to ensure that the Schedule was indeed removed.

And, you will have received a note from the College to confirm that the Ministry of Health has directed the College to address the language barriers for practitioners to write the exams, as well as confirming that consultation will occur with practitioners before any changes to the TCM Act.

Thanks once more to Everyone that has been involved in this fight. I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible efforts of members of the Coalition, who volunteered time, energy and skills to saving our profession.

Members of this profession came together, with schools, and with associations, we garnered provincial, national and international attention, with many many letters of support, including letters of support that swamped our MPP’s offices here in Ontario, more than 36000 signatures on the online petition, more than $10000 raised to support our efforts to which the Council of TCM Schools, as well as TCMO, donated an additional $5000 each.

The Coalition continues to use these funds to support the legal fees,
government relations efforts, and media relations. With the support of a united profession, the Coalition remains vigilant for the next challenge.

I’d also like to take a moment to thank all the Board members of TCMO; Aline, Royce, Zachary, Karen, Mike, Barbara, Raylene and Jason all pitched in, adding to the website, processing new memberships, writing letters, writing press briefs, and participating in conversations on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

And, finally, I’d like to take a moment to thank each and every member of TCMO, I know each of you took time out of your schedule to monitor the issue, to chat with patients, friends and family, to write a letter to your MPP, some even called, to reach out to offer support and to work cooperatively to save our healthcare profession.

Thank you for being a member and for keeping your membership current in TCMO.