Links to midwifery laws are listed below under each province and territory. In addition, most Acts and Regulations in Canada can be found at the Canadian Legal Information Institute website. The site is managed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and information is in English and in French. CMRC’s list of regulatory terms is found here.
British Columbia
Midwifery is regulated in British Columbia under the Health Professions Act [RSBC 1996] Chapter 183, the Midwives Regulation BC Reg 167/2020, and the College Bylaws. Since the implementation of regulation in 1998, all midwives must be registered with the British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives to be permitted to practice.
Alberta
Midwifery is regulated in Alberta under the Health Professions Act R.S.A.2000, c. H-7 and the Midwives Profession Regulation. To view midwifery laws, go to Alberta Laws. Since the implementation of regulation in 1998, all midwives must be registered with the College of Midwives of Alberta(link is external) to be permitted to practice.
Saskatchewan
Midwifery is regulated in Saskatchewan under the The Midwifery Act, Chapter M-14.1 and The Midwifery Regulations, The Midwifery Administration Bylaws, and The Midwifery Regulatory Bylaws. To view these laws, go to Saskatchewan Midwifery(link is external). Since the implementation of regulation in 2008, all midwives must be registered with the Saskatchewan College of Midwives(link is external) to be permitted to practice.
Manitoba
Midwifery is regulated in Manitoba under the Midwifery Act C.C.S.M. c. M125 and the Midwifery Regulation, Man. Reg. 68/2000 and the CMM By-Law No. 1. Since the implementation of regulation in 2000, all midwives must be registered with the College of Midwives of Manitoba to be permitted to practice.
Ontario
Midwifery is regulated in Ontario under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and the Midwifery Act, 1991. In addition, there are specific regulations made under these acts. To access these midwifery laws, go to Ontario e-Laws. Since the implementation of regulation in 1994, all midwives must be registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario to be permitted to practice.
Note: There are exceptions for Aboriginal midwives and healers in the Midwifery Act, 1991 and the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, respectively. These exceptions allow Aboriginal midwives to provide traditional midwifery services to Aboriginal persons or members of an Aboriginal community and to use the title Aboriginal Midwife.
Quebec
Midwifery is regulated in Quebec under the Loi sur les Sages-Femmes, chapter S-0.1, and a number of regulations. For a full list of midwifery laws, go to the OSFQ website.
Since the implementation of regulation in 1999, all midwives must be registered with the Ordre des sages-femmes du Québec (OSFQ) to be permitted to practise.
Nova Scotia
Midwifery is regulated in Nova Scotia under the Midwifery Act and the Midwifery Regulations, N.S. Reg. 58/2009. To access the Act, go to https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/midwifery.pdf and to access the Regulations, go to https://www.novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/midwifery.htm.
The Regulated Health Professions Act will eventually replace 21 acts currently in place for self-regulated health professions in the province. Once passed, work on new midwifery regulations will be undertaken.
Since the implementation of regulation in 2009, all midwives must be registered with the Midwifery Regulatory Council of Nova Scotia(link is external) to be permitted to practise.
New Brunswick
Midwifery is regulated in New Brunswick under the Midwifery Act, Chapter M-11.5 and the new Brunswick Regulation 2010-113. All midwives must be registered with the Midwifery Council of New Brunswick to be permitted to practice.
Northwest Territories
Midwifery is regulated in the Northwest Territories under the Midwifery Profession Act, S.N.W.T. 2006, c.24, and a number of regulations.
Since the implementation of regulation in 2005, midwives must be registered with the Government of the NWT Professional Licensing, Health and Social Services to be permitted to practise.
Nunavut
Midwifery is regulated in Nunavut under theMidwifery Profession Act (2009) and regulations. Since the implementation of the regulation in 2011, all midwives must be registered by the Registrar of Health Professions, Government of Nunavut to be permitted to practice.
Prince Edward Island
Midwifery has been regulated in Prince Edward Island since late 2022 under PEI Regulated Health Professions Act RSPEI 1988, c R-10.1 and Midwives Regulations.
All midwives must be registered with the College of Registered Nurses and Midwives of PEI to be permitted to practice.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Midwifery in Newfoundland and Labrador is governed under the Health Professions Act 2010 and Midwives Regulations under the act.
Midwives must be registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals to be permitted to practice.
Yukon Territory
Midwifery in Yukon is regulated under the Health Professions Act SY 2003, c 24, and the Midwifery Regulation.
Since the implementation of the regulation in 2021, midwives must be registered with the Government of Yukon, Professional Licensing to be permitted to practice.