Massage Therapy Act introduced by Saskatchewan's provincial government - Assiniboia Times

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The provincial government presented The Massage Therapy Act on Monday, Dec. 7. This legislation will inaugurate the Saskatchewan College of Massage Therapy – a regulatory association constructed to administer and guide massage therapists in the province.

The Massage Therapy Act will be brought into power by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

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The Saskatchewan College of Massage Therapy was created to recognize therapists with professional training. Further, this official designation will allow the public to report risky procedures committed by therapists.

In speaking on behalf of the Canadian Massage and Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association, the massage therapy industry in a release stated: “For the last number of years, the Canadian Massage and Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association (CMMOTA), together with the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada Association(NHPC) and the Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan (MTAS) have been advocating for the establishment of a professional Saskatchewan College of Massage Therapy by the Government of Saskatchewan.”

The provincial government expressed their confidence in this motion generated to improve Saskatchewan’s criteria in massage therapy. “Establishing self-regulation for massage therapy in our province will help ensure that the services people receive are safe and appropriate,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said. “This will give greater assurance to the public that the practitioner they’re seeing meets established competency standards. Also, if there are any concerns regarding the practitioner’s competence or conduct there will be a mechanism in place to address those concerns.”

The Saskatchewan College of Massage Therapy is an impartial body and detached from three existing associations, including the Massage Therapists Association of Saskatchewan (MTAS), Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) and Canadian Massage and Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association (CCMOTA).

Those governing bodies will remain as advocacy organizations for the profession, comparable to the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) for physicians.The Saskatchewan College of Massage Therapy is expected to be a regulatory body conceived to maintain competency, standards and a code of ethics for either investigative or supervisory procedures specific to this profession.