2026 Regional Symposium - Halifax

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Registration & Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15 a.m.

Welcome & Introductions

9:15 – 10:15 a.m.

Understanding the Forces Shaping Regulation: Governance, Risk, and Political Context in Atlantic Canada

10:15 – 10:30 a.m.  

Break

10:30 – 12:00 p.m.

Mobility, Protectionism, and Public Safety: Finding Regulatory Balance in Atlantic Canada 

12:00 – 1:15 p.m.

Lunch (provided) & Networking

1:15 – 2:15 p.m.

Facilitated Roundtables: Managing Public Expectations, Affordability, and Trust in Regulation

2:15 – 2:30 p.m.

Break

2:30 – 3:45 p.m.

Fireside Chat: Proactive Regulation in a Politicized Environment

3:45 – 4:00 p.m.

Program Reflection & Closing Remarks

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Registration & Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15 a.m.

Welcome & Introductions

9:15 – 10:15 a.m.

Understanding the Forces Shaping Regulation: Governance, Risk, and Political Context in Atlantic Canada 
      Victoria Rees K.C. | Counsel, Professional Regulation, Pink Larkin

Regulators across Atlantic Canada are operating in an environment defined by increasing political attention, evolving public expectations, and sustained pressure to improve access, efficiency, and workforce mobility. As governments pursue regulatory reform and system-level change, regulatory bodies are being asked to adapt quickly without compromising public safety, all the while navigating uncertainty, competing priorities, and heightened scrutiny.

Drawing on decades of experience advising and working with regulatory bodies across Canada and internationally, Victoria L. Rees, K.C., will set the stage for the day by exploring the forces shaping regulatory practice, including:

How political and policy pressures are influencing regulatory frameworks and decision-making;

Emerging risks and challenges facing regulators, including workforce pressures and evolving public expectations;

The role of governance, ethics, and principled decision-making in maintaining regulatory integrity;

Opportunities for regulators to adopt proactive, risk-informed, and sustainable approaches; and

How regulators can build on existing strengths and best practices to navigate ongoing change

10:15 – 10:30    

Break

10:30 – 12:00

Mobility, Protectionism, and Public Safety: Finding Regulatory Balance in Atlantic Canada

Across Atlantic Canada, nursing regulators are operating at the intersection of workforce urgency and political expectation. Commitments to interprovincial labour mobility under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, evolving provincial policies to reduce regulatory barriers, and shifting national and international economic pressures are accelerating changes to how nurses are licensed, recognized, and supported in practice.

In this panel, leaders from four Atlantic nursing colleges will examine how political priorities and public discourse are shaping regulatory approaches to mobility, credential recognition, and workforce integration. From streamlined pathways for internationally educated nurses to increasing expectations for faster, more flexible licensure, regulators are being asked to respond to policy direction while maintaining consistent standards of practice and public safety.

The discussion will also explore the tensions that emerge in this environment: balancing mobility with jurisdictional autonomy, responding to protectionist pressures while enabling workforce flow, and navigating public and political demands for access, affordability, and accountability. Panelists will reflect on how broader trends such as economic uncertainty, trade dynamics, and shifting government–regulator relationships are influencing decision-making and regulatory risk.

Drawing on perspectives from across the region, this session will surface how political context is not just shaping regulatory change but actively redefining the boundaries within which regulators operate and how they can respond thoughtfully, transparently, and effectively.

12:00 – 1:15 p.m.

Lunch (provided) & Networking

1:15 – 2:15 p.m.

Facilitated Roundtables: Managing Public Expectations, Affordability, and Trust in Regulation

2:15 – 2:30 p.m.

Break

2:30 – 3:45 p.m.

Fireside Chat: Proactive Regulation in a Politicized Environment

Moderator: Daniel Roukema | CEO, MDR Strategy Group

Clare Bilek | Legal Counsel, Chartered Professional Accountants of Nova Scotia

Ryan Baxter | Board Member, Partner, McInnes Cooper

As regulatory environments become increasingly shaped by political priorities, legislative change, and public scrutiny, legal considerations are playing a more visible and complex role in regulatory decision-making. This session brings together legal experts working both within and alongside regulatory bodies to explore how these dynamics are unfolding in practice. Drawing on perspectives from private legal counsel and in-house regulatory counsel, the conversation will examine how political discourse and policy direction are influencing regulatory frameworks, risk, and decision-making across Atlantic Canada and beyond.

Through a moderated and interactive conversation, we will reflect on emerging legal trends, including the increasing scrutiny of regulatory actions, the implications of legislative change, and the challenges of balancing proactive regulation with legal defensibility. The session will also consider how regulators can navigate uncertainty to respond strategically while maintaining transparency, fairness, and public trust.

3:45 – 4:00 p.m.

Program Reflection & Closing Remarks