Alberta’s Bill 2 (Back to School Act) was passed in the legislature on October 27th, 2025, to end the teachers’ strike by imposing a collective agreement and legislating teachers back to work. The use of the rarely utilized notwithstanding clause, which permits the government to suspend certain rights guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has resulted in a sudden end to the 2025 Alberta teacher’s strike.

For speech‑language pathologists and audiologists in schools, this will likely mean sudden schedule changes, assessment and therapy backlogs, and extra administrative coordination as schools reintegrate staff and students; privately contracted clinicians who work with schools may face referral delays and altered communication routes as the backlogs are worked through.

SAC will continue to monitor the situation and provide our members with relevant updates.

The 2025 Federal Budget marks a return to fiscal restraint, emphasizing infrastructure, capital investment, workforce stabilization and new criteria for the use of health transfers. Several of the items included in the Budget create important advocacy opportunities for speech-language pathologists (S-LPs), audiologists, and communication health assistants (CHAs).

Canada Health Act Clarification: A Pivotal Policy Shift

A major development for the professions is the newly announced Canada Health Act (CHA) Services Policy, which takes effect April 1, 2026. The policy clarifies that provinces and territories must ensure public insurance coverage for “medically necessary physician-equivalent services” delivered by other regulated health professionals.

This federal interpretation, enforced through the Canada Health Transfer (CHT), provides a powerful advocacy tool for S-LPs, audiologists and CHAs to pursue provincial inclusion of essential communication, hearing, and swallowing services within publicly funded care. SAC will continue to engage with partners to ensure this policy translates into meaningful access improvements for Canadians.

Health Workforce and Credential Recognition

To address ongoing health human resource (HHR) shortages, the Budget introduces a Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Action Fund, providing $97 million over five years starting in 2026–27. This fund aims to streamline the licensing process for internationally trained professionals in healthcare and other in-demand fields.

SAC welcomes this investment but emphasizes that domestic recruitment and retention remain critical. We continue to call on the federal government to:

• expand the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program to include S-LPs and audiologists;
• invest in graduate training capacity and student placement supports; and
• prioritize S-LPs, audiologists, and CHAs in national health workforce planning efforts.

Access to Care and Equity Initiatives

Budget 2025 commits $115.7 million over four years to reduce costs for Canadians applying for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), a measure that will directly benefit clients, by providing compensation to professionals who are authorized to certify impairments related to speaking and hearing, such as S-LPs and audiologists.

The Budget also confirms continued funding for Jordan’s Principle through 2025–26, safeguarding access to vital services for First Nations children. SAC continues to advocate for:

• increased federal investment in Indigenous-led speech and hearing health initiatives; and
• expanded telehealth and mobile clinic programs to reach remote and underserved communities.

Research and Innovation Ecosystem

Budget 2025 reinforces Canada’s commitment to research and innovation with a $1.7 billion International Talent Attraction Strategy and $5 billion Health Infrastructure Fund, alongside targeted investments in life sciences and commercialization. These initiatives have the potential to advance evidence-based care and health system sustainability.

SAC will continue to monitor the implementation of these measures and advocate for policies that strengthen access to communication and hearing care across Canada.

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.

With the recent Royal Assent of Bill 2, Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, 2025, a streamlined “as of right” certification process will take effect on January 1, 2026. Under this framework, certified professionals from other Canadian provinces and territories will be able to begin working in Ontario within 10 business days of their credentials being reviewed. This change is expected to significantly reduce the time and administrative hurdles that previously delayed registration, making it faster for qualified professionals to join Ontario’s workforce.  

While this announcement highlights non-health professions, SAC is closely monitoring developments for regulated health professions, including S–LPs and audiologists. Currently, registration for health professionals trained in other jurisdictions can take several months. Any future labour mobility initiatives are expected to streamline entry, support workforce flexibility, and improve access to essential services.  

SAC supports measures that improve labour mobility and address health human resource shortages, particularly in underserved communities. Greater mobility will also help support timely access to essential speech, language, and hearing health services.  

We have previously submitted recommendations to the Ontario Ministry of Health as part of its consultation on Reducing Barriers to Practice and Enhancing Labour Mobility for Regulated Health Professionals Registered in other Jurisdictions. We also provided feedback to the federal government on proposed legislation to address interprovincial trade of goods and services, with specific input on health workforce implications.   

SAC will continue to monitor developments and keep members informed as policies and regulations are introduced to support the implementation of health professionals in this framework.  

SAC submitted proposals to the Ontario Ministry of Health recommending important updates to the scope of practice for S-LPs and audiologists. These recommendations build on previous work by OSLA and reflect priorities identified by Ontario members.

To ensure members are fully informed, we are sharing letters with Ontario S-LPs and audiologists outlining the proposed changes and their potential impact.

• Read our letter to S-LP members here.
• Read our letter to audiologist members here.

Alberta has launched a new $3.3 million bursary program to help grow the province’s early childhood education workforce. This new program will provide up to 300 one-time bursaries of $10,000 to eligible students over the next three years. The bursary is intended to help cover the costs of tuition, books, and living expenses for students enrolled in an approved early learning and childcare certificate program at one of 20 participating post-secondary institutions in the province.

In the provincial announcement, Hon. Demetrios Nicolaides, Alberta’s Minister of Education and Childcare, said the investment directly addresses the need for a skilled workforce to provide high-quality care for families. The program follows five years of targeted support for the childcare workforce, which has seen the number of ECEs in Alberta increase by more than 13,000 to a total of 31,200 since 2021.

Federal Secretary of State for Children and Youth, Anna Gainey, was quoted in the announcement as saying ECEs are the “cornerstone” of Canada’s early learning and childhood system, and the bursary will help open doors for new educators and strengthen the workforce.

This investment is a part of the Canada-Alberta Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which includes a commitment to expand Alberta’s ECE workforce. All childcare staff in Alberta are required to be certified within six months of employment.

As Alberta expands its early childhood education workforce through the new bursary program, SAC is encouraging its members to engage with this initiative by exploring opportunities for collaboration with educators, advocating for communication health training in ECE programs, and monitoring workforce developments that may impact service delivery. SAC sees this investment as a strategic opening to strengthen early identification and support for children with speech, language, and hearing needs across the province.

On August 15^th, SAC met with Primary Care Alberta to discuss integrating speech-language pathologists (S-LPs), audiologists, and communication health assistants (CHAs) into primary care teams. The discussion focused on scope of practice recognition and the critical role our professions play in primary care teams. SAC emphasized how the expertise of S-LPs, audiologists, and CHAs can significantly improve health outcomes by addressing communication and hearing needs at the foundational level of primary care, while also underscoring the importance of swallowing and vestibular care. Instead of being seen as siloed specialists, the conversation emphasized their role as collaborative partners working alongside family doctors, nurses, and other health professionals to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care.

During this meeting, we also explored the possibility of developing a policy submission to the government. This submission would outline concrete strategies and recommendations for formally including S-LPs, audiologists, and CHAs into primary care teams to help address service gaps and improve access for Albertans.

A significant part of the conversation focused on expanding the roles for S-LPs, audiologists, and CHAs, particularly within public health teams. This could involve shifting beyond traditional one-on-one therapy toward population-level initiatives and community-based outreach. This approach could proactively identify and address communication and hearing health issues before they become more complex, helping build a more efficient and effective healthcare system.

To build on the momentum from this meeting, SAC is asking its members to contribute to this important advocacy work. Your experience is invaluable in shaping practical and effective policy recommendations. We are now accepting submissions from members for policy suggestions on how to best integrate S-LPs, audiologists, and CHAs into primary care teams in Alberta.

Please submit your ideas, including specific examples or case studies, to our dedicated advocacy team. Your input will help us develop a comprehensive, evidence-informed policy submission to the government. To share your suggestions, email us directly at advocacy@sac-oac.ca. Your voice is critical in advancing our professions and ensuring all Albertans have access to the care they need.

This fall, communities across Canada are coming together to celebrate the power of research and innovation during “Celebrate Research Week 2025”, from November 17–21. Led by the Osler Research Institute for Health Innovation (ORIHI), the campaign highlights the vital role research plays in improving health outcomes, strengthening the economy, and protecting the environment 

To support local engagement, the ORIHI has developed a toolkit with practical resources for communities, organizations, and individuals who want to get involved. The toolkit includes: 

• Tools to foster research visibility locally and nationally 
• Template letters and guidelines for connecting with elected officials  
• Tips for advocating for sustained funding and supportive policies 
• Resources to unite researchers across Canada through coordinated messaging, events, and advocacy 

 As SAC  continues to shape policy, practice, and public understanding of communication,  swallowing, and balance disorders, we encourage members to take part in initiatives and projects that spotlight emerging research and innovation to drive the future of speech-language pathology and audiology services. 

Access the ORIHI’s toolkit to participate and learn more. 

SAC recently received a letter from the Honourable Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare, in response to our recent position paper, ‘The Role of Speech-Language Pathologists in School-Based Literacy.’ We had sent the paper to the Minister’s office aiming to highlight the vital contribution of speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) to Alberta’s education system and to advocate for a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to school-based literacy. 

Our position paper was sent to the Minister to support ongoing discussions around literacy programming and promote stronger collaboration between educators and S-LPs. We outlined the critical role that S-LPs play in literacy development, including their expertise in reading and writing skills, knowledge of language development, and ability to deliver evidence-based support to students. The paper concluded with a call to action: invest in S-LP services in schools, strengthen collaboration between S-LPs and educators, and leverage S-LPs’ expertise to advance inclusive literacy practices.  

The Minister’s letter expressed his appreciation for SAC’s position paper and the opportunity to respond. He highlighted the government’s belief that “giving every student the right start is essential” and emphasized the importance of supporting foundational reading, writing, and math skills. The Minister also detailed recent government initiatives, including engaging with school boards and stakeholders to gather feedback on the current approach to early literacy. He noted that this engagement led to enhancements for the 2024/25 school year, such as more frequent screenings for students in Grades 1 to 3 and the introduction of kindergarten screening. 

The Minister’s letter concludes by encouraging SAC to share the position paper directly with Alberta school boards. Under Alberta’s Education Act, school boards are responsible for delivering appropriate education programming and ensuring students have access to specialized supports when needed. The letter further notes that school boards receive additional funding to address diverse learning needs, enabling them to provide a continuum of services within inclusive learning environments. 

Read his letter now.