Advocacy Update - Meetings at Queen's Park

On March 6, 7 and 8, 2018, Andrew Lewarne, Executive Director and CEO of the RMTAO, met with various MPPs, Ministers, Critics, and staffers at Queen's Park to discuss the inclusion of massage therapy in the delivery of health care to Ontarians. There were 11 meetings total with representatives from all government parties.

The value of massage therapy as primary health care was the main theme, but the discussions focused specifically on RMT inclusion in government-funded Local Health Integrated Networks (LHINS) including long-term care facilities and home and community care, Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) and Family Health Teams (FHTs).

The results of all meetings were encouraging and there was general agreement of the value of massage therapy. There was also general interest in the potential to better incorporate massage therapy into the healthcare initiatives within local communities.

The RMTAO will continue to follow up on the leads that resulted from these rewarding meetings. We will be providing the research and data needed to better facilitate the inclusion of massage therapists in government health care initiatives. We will continue to work towards massage therapy inclusion in government initiatives and creating more opportunities for RMTs and the massage therapy profession.