Office des professions du Québec

The OPQ is a Quebec body responsible for ensuring that the professions are exercised and develop by offering the public a guarantee of competence and integrity.

[1] The financing of the OPQ's expenses is assumed by the individual annual contributions fixed by the government and collected by the orders from their members.

Together with the Ordre and the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Québec (CIQ), the OPQ contributes to building public and institutional confidence in the professional system.

These groupings were also aimed at countering impostors improvising as experts, sharing expertise, developing instrumentation and establishing standards of professional practice.

During the 1960s and 1970s, members of several new professions aspired to be recognized and the legislations governing occupations were disparate, calling into question the professional supervision in Quebec.

On November 9, 1966, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council set up a commission to examine the professional system, to investigate the whole field of health and social welfare in Quebec.

The report recommends an important reorganization of the professional organization in Quebec beyond the scope of the health and social services professions.

From now on, the State may establish professional associations, in particular, by entrusting them with the mandate to protect the public with respect to certain activities that involve risks of harm to physical, psychological and patrimonial integrity.

The mission of protecting the public assumed by the professional corporations was then divided into two parts: Highlights List of presidents of OPQ: Mr René Dussault (1973 to 30 June 1977), André Desgagné (1 August 1977 to 1987), Thomas J. Mulcair (9 Dec. 1987-31 August 1993), Robert Diamant (1 Sep. 1993-31 Aug. 1998), Jean-K. Samson (Sept. 28, 1998-2003), Gaétan Lemoyne (29 sept. 2003-2007) and Jean-Paul Dutrisac (2007-today).

[10] List of vice-presidents of the OPQ: Jean-Marie Dionne (1973-7 Nov. 1983), Louis Roy (1983-1993), Sylvie de Grandmont (1994-2007),[10] Christiane Gagnon (2007-today).

[11] List of ministers responsible for the enforcement of professional laws: Claude Castonguay (until July 1973), Fernand Lalonde (Nov.

The main roles of these committees relate to monitoring the application of deontological and ethical rules governing the practice of the profession.