Influencing Public Policy
On behalf of the profession and its membership, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists submits to various public processes to reflect on issues of concern and propose recommendations to better serve the profession, members, clients and the public interest.
This article aligns the discussion of health system transformation with literature identifying the cost-effectiveness of occupational therapy in Canada.
- October, 2012 - Presentation to Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affair
Occupational Therapy: Supporting successful transitions to civilian life. Presentation to the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs by Elizabeth Steggles, Professional Affairs Executive on October 24, 2012.
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October, 2012- CAOT collaborates on response to the first report of the Health Care Innovation Working Group (HCIWG)
On October 10, 2012, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists – British Columbia chapter (CAOT-BC), Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists (SAOT), Saskatchewan Society of Occupational Therapists (SSOT), Manitoba Society of Occupational Therapists (MSOT), Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec (OEQ), New Brunswick Association of Occupational Therapists (NBAOT), Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists (NSSOT), Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapy Society (PEIOTS), Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Occupational Therapists (NLAOT), and the Association of Yukon Occupational Therapists (AYOT) sent a letter and coordinated response paper to Premiers Brad Wall and Robert Ghiz, the Co-chairs of the Council of the Federation's Health Care Innovation Working Group.
- August, 2012 - Applauds new HRSDC task force for workers with disabilities
On July 30, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Minister Diane Finley announced a new task force to support the engagement of people with disabilities in Canada’s labour market. CAOT has written to Minister Finley and the Chair of the Task Force, Kenneth Fredeen of Deloitte and Touche, to congratulate them on this important action and to offer the expertise of occupational therapists to share knowledge and support the development of tools and resources for both employers and employees that will maximize participation and productivity of individuals with physical, mental or intellectual disabilities.
Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High Demand Occupations. Presentation to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) by Claudia von Zweck PhD OT(C) Executive Director Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) May 9, 2012.
- February 2012 - Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health
Recommendations:
The Federal Government adopt a vision for promoting health and preventing disease that includes individual and community engagement in health living activities, providing leadership and shifting the focus of Canadian healthcare from treatment to health promotion.
The Federal Government support the engagement of the Public Health Agency of Canada to participate in the consensus building and dissemination of the Active Living Guide.
Occupational therapists are included in the strategic planning and implementation of creating a new vision for Canadian health promotion and disease prevention.
- November 2011 - Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
CAOT submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology study of the progress in implementing the 2004, 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care. The brief is entitled “Promoting a Prevention Agenda for the Future Well-being Of Canadian Society”. - October 2011 - IEOT Presentation to the House of Commons HR Committee
Internationally Educated Occupational Therapists in Canada: Planning for the Future - Presentation to the
House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities by Claudia von Zweck, PhD OT(C) Executive Director Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) October 20, 2011 - August 2011 - Pre Budget Consultations 2012
CAOT wishes to make three recommendations to address a key area that impacts the Canadian economy - the upward spiral of health system costs. - June 2011 - Budget 2011- June 2011 Version
CAOT provided in March 2011 a summary of key points in the Federal Government budget. The following adds to the previous document by highlighting first the new elements of the budget presented June 6, 2011.
- March 2011 - A Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Perspective on Budget 2011
With a heavy emphasis on economic recovery, the Conservative Government’s Budget 2011 introduced Phase 2 of the Economic Action Plan – A Low Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth. This budget report highlights for Occupational Therapists the impact of this budget on the profession and on the client.
- February/March 2011 - Ensuring Adequate Access to Occupational Therapists in British Columbia
In partnership with the British Columbia Society of Occupational Therapists (BCSOT), CAOT prepared a report addressing the shortage of occupational therapists in British Columbia. This report was presented to the Government of British Columbia on February 23, 2011 in support of advocacy efforts to increase the number of seats for the occupational therapy program at the University of British Columbia. An earlier report in 2007 addressed similar issues. To view the 2007 report, please click here. - February, 2011 - Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Healthy Living
Recommendations:
That the federal government creates an Active Living Guide along the same lines as the Canada Food Guide. It would identify the range of activities and strategies to promote healthy living
That the federal government increases the breadth of the Child Fitness Tax Credit introduced by the Government of Canada in 2006 to the economically disadvantaged to participation in fitness programs.
- January, 2011 - Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) Response to the Discussion Paper for Made in Manitoba Accessibility Legislation. The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) believes all people in Canada have the right to full-participation in society, free of barriers created by;
1) attitudes
2) the built environment
3) communication methods that limit access to information that is available to the general public
4) the usability of new and emerging technologies, including service-related and consumer electronic devices, and
5) public policy and practices.
- August 2010 - Submission to the Pre-budget Consultations of the House of Commons Standing Committee of Finance. As part of the government's consultation in preparation of its budget, CAOT has proposed that the government consider the following recommendations:
1) That the federal government working with the provinces and territories, lead a campaign to portray healthy life style and to present the benefits of staying active at all ages by developing an Active Living Guide along the same lines as the Canada Food Guide to identify the range of activities suitable to various age groups to promote healthy occupations.
2) That the federal government take a leadership role in federal/provincial-territorial initiatives to address public safety and retirement from driving in a way that is dignified by providing a tax credit for retraining of older drivers promoting injury prevention, increasing older adult independence and reducing costs to government programs
3) That the federal government increase the breadth of the Child Fitness tax credit introduced by the Government of Canada in 2006 to be open to all Canadians to promote active living through the participation in fitness programs that contribute to reducing obesity as part of weight reduction programs and promoting healthy aging.
- March 2010 - CAOT Response to Senator Carstairs' Review of End-Of-Life Care in Canada. CAOT believes all people in Canada have the right to quality end-of-life care that allows them to die with dignity, free of pain, surrounded by their loved ones, in a setting of their choice. To achieve quality end-of-life care for all, the people of Canada require a collaborative, well-funded and sustainable national strategy for hospice, palliative, and end-of life care and services from a team of health professionals that includes occupational therapists. This care must be delivered in a culturally safe manner, and respectful of: nationality, culture, age, gender, political religious and gender orientation values (NAHO, 2007).
- March 2010 - Response from the CAOT regarding the Discussion Paper produced by the College of Family Physicians. CAOT supports initiatives that build on Primary Care in Canada, as well as improved access and service provision initiatives outlines in the Canadian Medical Home Discussion Paper produced by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
- November 2009 - Caring for Canadian Veterans - CAOT submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. Despite a well regarded reputation for delivering high quality services on a timely basis to Canadian veterans through the Operational Stress Injury (OSI) clinic and the Veterans Independence Program, we are concerned that the full potential of occupational therapy is underutilized. Occupational therapists could contribute even more as part of all inter-professional assessment teams at VAC to ensure the best, most cost effective decisions and services are provided from the very beginning of treatment and develop more comprehensive return-to-work plans using occupational therapists in order to reduce the number of military transferred to civilian life and the care of Veterans Affairs Canada.
