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Maximizing Student Placement Capacity in Advance of the New S-LP Program at the University of Saskatchewan

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This July, SAC-Saskatchewan Regional Advocacy Manager met with Mark Wyatt, Assistant Deputy Minister of Advanced Education, along with representatives from the University of Saskatchewan (U of S), the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Ministry of Advanced Education (MOAE). The discussion focused on supporting clinicians supervising students on clinical placements in preparation for the new speech-language pathology program at the U of S, set to open in September 2026.

Several approaches to strengthen placement capacity were highlighted during the meeting. The SHA reported that funding has been secured for an S-LP Preceptor Coordinator to manage placement requests across the authority. We emphasized that clinicians already carry heavy caseloads and that management-level support will be critical during the early stages of placements, when supervision demands are highest. Potential incentives to support preceptors discussed included daily clinical rate payments, continuing education, and professional development opportunities.

Representatives from the U of S shared updates on ongoing stakeholder meetings with health, education, and private practice partners. They also noted housing challenges for students in rural and remote areas, with virtual placements being considered as one possible solution.

SAC also raised the need for student housing supports to improve access to placements in underserved regions. ADM Wyatt committed to connecting SAC with the Ministry of Education to explore school-based placement opportunities. Additionally, the Ministries of Health and Advanced Education will explore involving private employers to expand clinical placement capacity beyond the SHA.

What SAC Members Need to Know About Bill C-5

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Bill C-5 presents an opportunity to modernize labour mobility and service delivery for health professionals across Canada. By establishing a statutory framework to reduce federal barriers to interprovincial trade and labour mobility, the bill could improve access to services—particularly through virtual care—and ease cross-jurisdictional practice for regulated professionals such as speech-language pathologists and audiologists. However, its success will depend heavily on how provinces, regulators, and Indigenous rights-holders are engaged in its implementation and whether they support or oppose the changes.

Below are some of the key takeaways of the Bill:

  1. A Framework for Future Change

Bill C-5 lays the foundation for reducing internal trade and labour mobility barriers across Canada. While implementation details remain limited, the legislation may signal a shift toward greater support for cross-jurisdictional practice. This could lead to improved mobility for professionals working across provincial and territorial boundaries.

  1. Respect for Provincial Regulatory Authority

The bill does not override provincial jurisdiction over professional regulation. Instead, it aims to harmonize existing regulations by recognizing comparable standards across jurisdictions. This is particularly relevant in professions like speech-language pathology and audiology, where scopes of practice and credentialing requirements can differ significantly by province.

  1. Potential to Expand Telehealth Access

By streamlining recognition of professional credentials, Bill C-5 could reduce administrative hurdles for clinicians providing virtual care across provincial lines. This has the potential to improve access to speech-language pathology and audiology services, especially in underserved or remote areas.

  1. Indigenous Rights and Consultation

The federal government has stated that Indigenous partnership is a key component of this legislation. However, some Indigenous organizations and leaders have raised concerns that the bill may bypass the duty to consult and infringe upon territorial rights -particularly due to fast-tracking provisions tied to projects deemed in the “national interest.” These concerns have led to increased advocacy for more meaningful and transparent engagement with Indigenous communities.

SAC is monitoring the progress of this legislation and its potential implications for the professions.

Bone Conduction Device Funding Launch

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SAC is pleased to share that the Bone Conduction Device (BCD) funding program within Ontario’s Infant Hearing Program (IHP) was officially launched on July 14, 2025. Bone conduction devices are used by infants and children with permanent conductive or mixed hearing loss. The launch of this program marks a major step forward in improving access to hearing technology for children and families across the province.

This BCD funding initiative is being led by the Oversight Agency of the Infant Hearing Program in Ontario, which is comprised of Newborn Screening Ontario and the National Centre for Audiology at Western University. This funding initiative comes after years of collective advocacy and collaboration among dedicated parent advocates, audiologists, physicians, and manufacturing partners.

Key highlights of the program include:

  • Manufacturer partnerships: Funding contracts are now in place with all three major BCD manufacturers Cochlear Canada, Oticon Medical, and Med-El. These contracts will enable direct ordering and centralized invoicing.
  • Policy-driven framework: New July 2025 IHP BCD Funding Policy outlines eligibility criteria, funding coverage, and device inclusions, ensuring transparency and consistency.
  • Access and accountability: The application-based model ensures funding is confirmed before device ordering, reducing financial burden on families and enhancing oversight of public funds.

SAC applauds the continued support from the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Ontario Ministry of Health in making this possible. This new funding model ensures that children across Ontario who require bone conduction devices can access the technology they need without delay or financial hardship.

For more information on fitting bone conduction devices for infants and children, view our webcast here.

SAC has joined Research Canada!

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SAC has officially joined Research Canada, a national alliance dedicated to advancing health research and innovation in Canada.

Bonnie Cooke, Director of Audiology and Tiffany Fearon, Ontario Government & Community Relations Manager, met with Research Canada in April to discuss the prospect of a strategic partnership to strengthen the voice of the professions across the country’s broader health research community.

By joining forces with Research Canada, SAC will have the opportunity to advocate more effectively for increased investment in research that supports communication health across the lifespan. This membership will open doors for increased interdisciplinary collaboration, data collection, and the exploration of innovative approaches to early detection, assessment and treatment of communication health disorders.

Learn more about Research Canada.

Improving Access to Communication Aids through ADP

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SAC has recently engaged with our S-LP membership to better understand the challenges faced when navigating Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program (ADP) for communication aids. S-LPs have raised concerns about the complexity and delays involved in accessing essential communication devices that impact both clinicians and the individuals they serve.

As we gather insights from our members, our goal is to bring these perspectives forward in future discussions with ADP and offer meaningful recommendations to help make the process more accessible and efficient.

We welcome your input. If you have experience with the ADP process for acquiring communication devices, or ideas for improvement, please share your feedback to help inform our ongoing advocacy efforts by emailing advocacy@sac-oac.ca.

SAC-Saskatchewan Follows Up on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)

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The 2024 National Report Card from the Canadian Infant Hearing Task Force (CIHTF) revealed that little has changed since its 2019 Report Card. Despite some improvements, Saskatchewan once again received an overall grade of “Insufficient” when it comes to providing infant hearing health services through its Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program.

Following our meeting with the Saskatchewan Deputy Minister of Health, Chad Ryan, in September 2024, we continue to follow up regarding progress on this issue. A dearth of audiology positions in the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) continues to limit the ability to expand this and other provincial audiology programs. Unfortunately, recruitment and retention remain a significant issue with many current positions going unfilled, some for several years.

We will continue to advocate for our professions to be included in provincial recruitment and retention initiatives, and have asked for an additional meeting to discuss additional recruitment and retention ideas.

Meeting with the Ontario Ministry of Education

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SAC met with the Ontario Ministry of Education at the end of May to discuss key priorities, including the enhanced support and integration of speech-language pathology and audiology services within the education system.

S-LPs and audiologists work with many students across a range of educational settings and play a vital role in the early identification and intervention of speech, language, and hearing disorders, all critical factors in a child’s academic and social development.

We were pleased to share important communication health updates with the Ministry and will continue to keep our members informed of the outcomes of this engagement.

Ontario Launching Over 130 New and Expanded Primary Care Teams 

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On June 23, the Ontario government announced a major step to improve access to primary care, with a plan to connect 300,000 more people to a family doctor or primary care team.  

As part of its $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan, the province is investing $235 million to support over 130 new and expanded primary care teams, focused on underserved communities. These teams have been selected to help people without a family doctor, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist. Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team, emphasized the province’s commitment to building a more accessible, team-based system led by family doctors and nurse practitioners. To support this, Ontario is also providing $142 million over three years to recruit and retain health professionals like nurse practitioners and pharmacists and investing $300 million to develop up to 17 new or expanded teaching clinics in underserved areas. 

SAC will continue to monitor developments and connect with decision makers to advocate for the integration of S-LPs and audiologists within Ontario’s evolving primary care landscape. 

Read the official news release here.

SAC-Ontario Scope of Practice Updates & 2025 Proposals

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Over the past year, SAC-Ontario has engaged with the Ministry of Health’s Health Workforce Regulatory Oversight Branch to advance the scope of practice for S-LPs and audiologists in Ontario. Throughout these meetings, we emphasized the importance of enabling S-LPs and audiologists to work to the full extent of their competencies. Ensuring both professions’ expertise is used efficiently supports access to care and reduces bottlenecks in the health system, particularly in underserved areas.

In early June, SAC submitted updated scope of practice proposals, building on recommendations previously developed by the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. These proposals reflect member feedback and include, but are not limited to, amendments to current scope of practice statements, the addition of select controlled acts, and the removal of existing limitations that restrict direct referrals for both professions.

SAC had the opportunity to detail how the proposed scope changes would improve system efficiency, decrease service delays, and enhance patient outcomes. We will continue to keep members informed as new developments unfold.

Advocacy for the Essential Role of S-LPs in School-based Literacy: Outreach to Saskatchewan’s Minister of Education

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In April 2025, SAC wrote a letter to Saskatchewan’s Minister of Education, Everett Hindley, following up on several items from our February 3 meeting. We also took the opportunity to acknowledge that we were pleased to see an emphasis on student literacy in the 2025-2026 Budget, with the Government of Saskatchewan dedicating an additional $2 million to advancing the work of the ministry and education partners to improve kindergarten to Grade 3 reading levels across the province.

In our letter, we asked whether the expertise of speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) had been solicited for this project and reiterated that, as noted in our new SAC Position Paper on the Role of Speech-Language Pathologists in School-based Literacy, S-LPs are the preeminent regulated healthcare professionals recognized as experts in oral and written communication.

On August 19, we received a written response from the Minister’s office, thanking us for the Position Paper and confirming important next steps. The letter stated that, in the 2025-2026 year, “a provincially approved reading screener will be implemented in every publicly funded school to help teachers identify students who may require additional supports in learning to read.”

The response also highlighted that a key action to improve reading levels in the primary grades is the renewal of K-Grade 3 language arts curricula, and that the ministry plans to consult with speech-language pathologists to critically examine these curricula.

SAC plans to follow up with the Director of Student Achievement and Supports at the Ministry of Health to ensure S-LPs’ expertise continues to be included in this important work.
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