Maximum amount for repeat offence is $50K for individuals, $100K for corporations
Recently introduced Saskatchewan legislation amending the province’s Medical Profession Act, 1981 (MPA), and Regulated Health Professions Act, 2025, seeks to help the provincial government protect patients and toughen the consequences for unlawful medical practice.
“These changes are about putting patients first and ensuring the College of Physicians and Surgeons has the authority it needs to protect the public,” said Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan health minister, in a news release.
The provincial government explained that bill 55 – the Medical Profession Amendment Act, 2026 – intends to:
- Broaden the investigative powers of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS)
- Clarify that the CPSS has the responsibility to prosecute offences under the MPA
- Authorize and enable the CPSS to apply to the court for an injunction to prevent an unlicensed individual from practising medicine
- Raise the maximum fines for offences for individuals and corporations practising unlawfully under the MPA
A proposed new section in bill 55 will authorize the lieutenant governor in council to make certain regulations in connection with the MPA. Possible regulations under this provision may address activities exempt from the meaning of “to practise medicine.”
The Saskatchewan government expects to pass the amending legislation in the Legislative Assembly this spring.
Unauthorized practice
According to the current text of bill 55, a person is engaging in prohibited unauthorized practice if they:
- Practise without CPSS registration and a valid licence or required permit, or
- Do not practise by, through, or in the name of a registered professional corporation with a valid permit
“Patients deserve to know that they are receiving safe and high quality care from a regulated health care professional,” said Cockrill, who introduced the bill.
In its news release, the provincial government explained that individuals will face a maximum fine of $25,000 for an initial offence and $50,000 for subsequent offences. Meanwhile, corporations will face a maximum fine of $50,000 for a first offence and $100,000 for later offences.
Court orders
Per the current text of bill 55, injunctions granted to the CPSS can prohibit people from:
- practising medicine without the required registration, licence, or permit
- breaching the MPA or the CPSS bylaws, code of ethics, or practice standards
Under bill 55, the court can also grant the CPSS an order to compel information if it has reasonable grounds to believe that the record is necessary to investigate a potential breach of ss. 79.1 or 80, or to support an application under s. 79.2 of the MPA.
