Fall 2011 Registration Exam Announcement
Posted May 25, 2011

Date: 2011 November 4,5,6
Location: Calgary, Delta Hotel (at Airport)
Fee: $1,300
Deadline for Applying is Aug 31, 2011

Registration Exam Application (PDF)
Printable registration form

Cover Letter to Exam Candidates (PDF)

AGM 2011

Review of AGM 2011
Posted June 14, 2011

Greetings to all CAAA members,

This Spring has been significant for the College and Association of Acupuncturists of Alberta because, at the Annual General Meeting held in Red Deer at the Red Deer Lake Lodge, our college has become it’s own self-regulating body. The meeting saw a wonderful turn-out of over 100 people, many navigating unpleasantly snowy roads and blustery conditions to attend.

The meeting hosted two featured speakers; Richard Truscott spoke on small business issues, and Shawn Buckley spoke about the regulation of herbal medicine.

To start our meeting, participants at the AGM were introduced to Richard Truscott, Alberta’s Director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). (You can follow Mr. Truscott via a twitter feed and connect with the CFIB at http://www.cfib.ca. The CFIB was established in 1971 and they promote the interests of small businesses. They also lobby governments to adopt policies that will benefit small business in Alberta and Canada. One way the CFIB helps small business owners is by educating the public about the practices of large credit card companies. Every time you pay with a credit card, a percentage of your purchase goes to the credit card company and bank. The more often you pay with a credit card, the more money goes to the credit card companies and banks in the form of transaction fees charged to the merchant.

If our patients knew about this, they may make more of an effort to pay using cash or debit cards. In addition to informing consumers, the CFIB does much more for small businesses, you can see how they can be of benefit to you by visiting their website.

The AGM’s keynote speaker was Shawn Buckley, a lawyer with expertise on the Food and Drugs Act and and a primary speaker for the Natural Health Products Protection Association (NHPPA). Mr. Buckley is inviting us to become members of the NHPPA to help see to it that we can continue to practice acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine the way we need to, with natural herbal medicines.

The NHPPA is an organization working to ensure that natural health products will be available to all people living in Canada. Why do we need an organization like this and why should we support it? Because the natural health products that we use may no longer be permitted for sale or even for use in Canada. For example, the majority (60%) of natural health product license applications are being denied and the cost for proper regulation greatly increases the price of these products. Many companies cannot afford to comply with these strict regulations set forth by Health Canada.
The NHPPA is also criticizing Bill C-36, an offshoot of one of the natural health industry’s most passionate battles involving Bill C-51. Bill C-36 would allow the Federal Government to designate and to seize medical property without the owners having any legal recourse. This is just one of many impositions contained in Bill C-36 that may conflict with our freedoms as health care practitioners. This means that our ability to prescribe natural medicine may be curtailed, and the medicines themselves, if deemed illegal, may be confiscated. For more information please visit www.NHPPA.org. Also you can become a member of NHPPA and learn how you can help to influence our law makers by making your voice heard.

The AGM benefited greatly from Mr. Truscott’s and Mr. Buckley’s presentations. The talks were informative, interesting, and importantly relevant to our practice as acupuncturists. They helped contribute to a successful, important, and enjoyable spring meeting of the CAAA.

Please see our Annual General Meeting Page for announcments about the AGM that was held on April 17, 2011.

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Letter to Registered Acupuncturists
November 29, 2010

Dear Colleagues and Registered Acupuncturists:

The Acupuncture profession has been regulated in Alberta since 1988 under the Health Disciplines Act. The profession has been governed by the Acupuncture Committee under the HDA since then.

In November of 2006, an interim council of the College and Association of
Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAAA) was created with collaboration of three
professional associations: The Acupuncture Society of Alberta, the Alberta
Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctors, and the Canadian Health
Profession Acupuncture Society. In April 2010, the CAAA held its first election.

The Minister of Health has given the College and Association of Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAAA) the responsibility to regulate our profession. Proclamation of a new regulation, with the CAAA replacing the Acupuncture Committee, will be in place on January 1, 2011. The CAAA would like to thank all dedicated individuals who helped to move the regulation of our profession forward and whose commitment and leadership has led the way for this milestone on the way to self-regulation.

CAAA is pleased to announce Mr. Daniel Mah as the new Registrar and
Executive Director effective January 1, 2011. Mr. Mah has a graduate degree
in management and marketing and is a Certified General Accountant. He has
lectured for years at the several Universities and Colleges. With experience in
studying Acupuncture and Complementary medicine, and also advanced training in Qi Gong and meditation, Daniel will provide leadership to our profession. Please join us in welcoming Daniel to the team as we all work together to pursue our mission, vision, and values as a regulatory body.

Those members who indicated their interest in serving on the sub committees will be contacted soon for further instructions. We are currently reviewing the terms of reference and purpose of the sub committees to further develop the CAAA’s governance model

Please be advised that the renewal of registration fee for 2011 will be $ 600.00
(includes licence renewal and membership fees). Members who renew their
registration for 2011 will be required to include this payment together with the
registration form. Please make your check payable to: College and Association
of Acupuncturists of Alberta.

Members are encouraged to visit the CAAA website frequently for more updates and further information about activities.

Sincerely,

Peggy Yu
President of CAAA

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AGM 2010

The CAAA AGM and Elections were held on April 25, 2010. See Who We Are for the list of elected council members. The following are some photos taken at the meeting:

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