BCPA Legislature Day

BCPA President Dr. Erika Horwitz, Executive Director Laura Darch, and Government Relations Consultant Steve Vander Wal recently travelled to Victoria for a BCPA Legislature Day, meeting with provincial decision-makers to advance the integration of psychologists into primary care across British Columbia.

These discussions marked an important step forward for Primary Care Psychology (PC Psych), highlighting growing recognition of the role psychologists can play within BC’s public healthcare system.

A key moment from the visit was the conversation with the Honourable Josie Osborne, who expressed openness to further exploring how psychologists can be integrated into team-based care. Ministry officials have now been directed to work collaboratively with the BCPA to identify and develop implementation options.

This direction represents meaningful momentum toward positioning psychologists as fully embedded healthcare professionals within primary care settings. Strengthening this integration not only improves access to mental health services, but also helps clarify and elevate the distinct clinical expertise psychologists contribute compared to other mental health providers.   
 

The BCPA delegation also met with MLA Claire Rattée, Official Opposition Critic for Mental Health & Addictions, and MLA Jeremy Valeriote of the BC Green Party. These conversations reflected broad, cross-party interest in strengthening mental health care in the province and supporting expanded roles for psychologists within the system.