NDP announce support for midwifery regulation

TheNew Democratic Party announced Friday that as part of its platform, it would develop midwifery regulations in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Midwifery was legalized in 2010 under the Heath Professionals Act, but is not yet regulated in the province.

"Parents coming to Newfoundland and Labrador from other provinces are shocked to find that a midwife is not legally allowed to deliver their baby," said St. John's East NDP candidate Lorraine Michael, in a press release.

"Midwives were essential to rural Newfoundland and Labrador in years past and can be that again throughout the province."

In 2014, the provincialgovernment released a report onestablishing and regulatingmidwifery.

At the time, then-health minister Susan Sullivan said it would take between five and seven years before midwives would be able to practice.

• Midwife report released to help guide N.L. regulations
• Midwives upset about wait time for new regulations

When the report was released, the government appointed a midwifery implementation coordinator and created anadvisory committee on the matter.

Midwifery is practiced in all otherCanadian provinces and territories, except forPrince Edward Island, the Yukon,andNew Brunswick.