The Decibel Why some doctors are critical of B.C.’s new health care regulations
Apr 2, 2026
André Picard, Globe and Mail health reporter and columnist specializing in health policy and regulation, unpacks B.C.’s sweeping overhaul of how health professionals are governed. He outlines consolidation of colleges, new disciplinary tribunals, rules on misinformation and anti-racism measures. He also discusses public trust, controversial cases that drove reform, and mixed reactions from health professionals.
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Superintendent Role And Board Composition
- The superintendent will standardize regulation and recommend board membership ensuring boards become roughly half public members.
- The health minister retains approval power over appointments, though rejections are rare, centralizing influence.
New Discipline Tribunals And Limited Appeals
- Discipline will separate investigation (by colleges) from sanctioning (by three-person tribunals including a public member, a peer, and a specialist).
- Members lose traditional appeals but can request review, a nuance whose practical effect remains unclear.
Transparency Versus Harm To Reputations
- Rulings will be more public to boost transparency, but concerns remain that publishing minor settled matters can unfairly harm professionals' reputations.
- Picard favors transparency over secrecy yet acknowledges nuance and potential unfair impacts on settled cases.