Serving the Public, Supporting the Profession: Inside Our New Strategic Plan

In December, following a year-long planning process, the College’s Board of Directors approved a new strategic plan for 2026 to 2030.  

In this month’s blog, I am taking the opportunity to introduce you to the new plan, how it builds on our past work, and what it means for physiotherapists in the years ahead.  

Before I dive in, I want to say thank you to everyone – physiotherapists, patients, and system partners who provided feedback as part of this process. Your input played a critical role in shaping the plan and ensuring it reflects the realities of practice and the needs of the public we serve.  

I know that’s a sentiment our board also shares.  

« This forward-thinking strategic plan reflects the Board’s vision and gives us a clear direction for the next four years,” said Board Chair Katie Schulz.  

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are grateful to the partners and College staff who worked with us to help shape it. We look forward to continuing our work to serve the public interest and inspire confidence in the physiotherapy profession. » 

Our Compass, the Strategic Plan 

The strategic plan provides important direction for the College. It grounds all the work we do – how we set priorities, make decisions, and allocate resources.  

At its heart is our core mission: to serve the public interest by enabling physiotherapists to provide competent, safe, and ethical care. 

Everything in the plan flows from that mission. Through our regulatory work we aim to inspire and maintain public confidence in the physiotherapy profession. That responsibility is central to our role as a regulator.  

Building on Strong Foundations 

In many ways, the new strategic plan continues key themes from our previous plan.  

These include:  

• Regulating using a risk-based proactive approach, so we focus our attention where the potential for harm is the greatest and avoid placing an unnecessary burden on registrants  

• Having an intentional approach to engagement and collaboration with our partners, recognizing where our goals overlap and how we can work together to reach them  

• Ensuring our people have the tools, skills and supportive environment needed to do their best work 

• Maintaining effective operations and governance to help us achieve our objectives, improve accountability, and build trust 

Evolving How We Regulate 

At the same time, the new plan incorporates some fresh ideas.  

One key theme is the recognition that a regulator can play a supportive role, serving the public interest by helping the profession be their best. This builds off the work we’ve been doing on proactive regulation – like creating resources to assist you in your practice.  

We’re also committed to approaching our work with compassion. All health regulators, including the College, have a legal responsibility to ensure competent practice. We take this responsibility seriously, but we also recognize we can strive to be kind while carrying out these important functions. We’ll continue efforts to update the language and tone of our communications to make sure we’re being clear and supportive, while ensuring our decision-making is fair and reasonable.  

The new plan builds on our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and includes direction that will help us move from intention to meaningful action. This includes identifying and addressing barriers and promoting inclusive practices. 

It also is explicit about recognizing the responsibility we have as a regulator to support reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. This includes working to incorporate First Nations, Métis and Inuit knowledge, experiences, and worldviews into our work, a process sometimes called Indigenization.  

From Strategy to Action: The 2026–2027 Operating Plan 

Our new plan has already been translated into commitments for the year ahead with many targeted specifically to helping you. 

Some of the key initiatives include: 

• Continuing to provide clear guidance and support to physiotherapists through standards and resources 

• Improving our IT systems, including the PT Portal, to improve user experience and strengthen security 

• Developing new standards related to Health Equity, Anti‑Discrimination, and Cultural Safety and Humility to support physiotherapists in providing safe, inclusive, and respectful care to all patients  

• Increasing the diversity of voices and perspectives that inform the College’s work, beginning with the recruitment of a focus group to guide our equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization work

• Exploring ways to modernize the Quality Assurance program and continuing professional development requirements 

Working Together 

Of course, we don’t do this work alone. We are most effective as a regulator when we hear from the profession, patients, and our system partners and find opportunities to collaborate. 

Many of you already provided feedback that helped shape this new plan and there will be more opportunities to contribute to our work in the in the months to come. 

Watch for consultations and focus groups where you will be able to share your insights and help us fulfill our mission of serving the public interest by enabling you to do your best work.