OOAQ is urging Quebec to update the Code des professions to allow audiologists to sell and fit hearing aids, an activity currently reserved for audioprothésistes. In its brief to parliamentarians, OOAQ outlined three core motivations for this request:

• allowing qualified professionals to fully practise within their authorized scope
• aligning the activities permitted for audiologists in Quebec with those authorized elsewhere in Canada to support workforce mobility
• and improving access to hearing aids while enhancing continuity of care.

Quebec remains the only jurisdiction in North America where audiologists cannot dispense hearing aids, and OOAQ cautions that relying solely on approximately 550 audioprothésistes to meet the needs of an aging population is insufficient to address growing demand.

A Turning Point for Hearing Care in Quebec?

The OOAQ’s proposal, raised as part of consultations on Quebec’s Bill 15, seeks to modernize multiple health profession frameworks and could represent a significant shift in how hearing care is delivered in the province. Their recommendation reflects a broader movement across Canada calling for better access, modernized regulation, and sustainable hearing health services. Read more here (French article).

Why This Matters Nationally

SAC’s ongoing federal advocacy has highlighted similar concerns across Canada.

Accessibility & Affordability

The Quebec debate underscores the urgent need for equitable access to hearing care. Rising service costs, limited public coverage, and provincial restrictions on provider roles continue to create barriers, especially for older adults and low-income Canadians. This aligns with SAC’s federal recommendations calling for:

• Improved financial accessibility to hearing services.
• Reduced wait times, particularly for rural, remote, and equity-seeking communities.
• A national approach to hearing health grounded in prevention, early identification, and timely intervention.

Health Human Resources (HHR)

OOAQ’s position highlights how regulatory modernization can help address HHR pressures by enabling the full scope of practice for audiologists. This mirrors SAC’s national asks to:

• strengthen Canada’s hearing care workforce;
• remove outdated legislative barriers; and
• ensure optimal use of professional competencies across disciplines.

As discussions continue in Quebec, SAC will continue to advocate federally for a comprehensive, accessible, and equitable national hearing health landscape that supports Canadians across all provinces and territories.