One of our primary goals is advocacy – remaining a driving force to nationally advance the interests of anesthesiologists and ensure they are recognized as professionals in acute and chronic pain management. CAS strives to be the voice of the profession, as a recognized source for anesthesiologists, government, and media. On top of our ongoing advocacy, based on the input of our members, we have identified the below matters as the most important issues that currently face our profession. Please stay tuned for updates or contact us for more information.

Latest Advocacy

august 15, 2024 

NEW! CAS Medication Shortage Bulletin: Access to Chloroprocaine and Mepivacaine in Canada (PDF)

December 18, 2023 

CAS Medication Shortage Bulletin: Endotracheal Tube Shortage (PDF)
CAS Medication Shortage Bulletin: Local Anesthetic Shortages (PDF)

November 17, 2023 

CAS Medication Shortage Bulletin: Succinylcholine Chloride (PDF)

October 16, 2023 

Strategies to Address the Surgical Backlog and Health Human Resource Issues in Anesthesia (PDF)

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)

In early 2021, CAS learned that the Ministry of Health in British Columbia had created a plan to introduce Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) as a new health profession and to establish an educational program to train CRNAs in BC. The Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society does not support the introduction of CRNAs – either independent practice or supervised – into the Canadian healthcare system. 

Since we learned of the Ministry’s intentions, CAS has been supporting our BC colleagues with their advocacy efforts and in developing a strategy to stop the Ministry from moving closer to including CRNAs in the province. We have contracted a public affairs firm with extensive experience in advocacy and government relations to advise the British Columbia Anesthesiologist's Society (BCAS) throughout this process. 

Learn more about what CAS is doing: 
 

Family Practice ANESTHETISTS

At our 2021 November Board meeting, CAS passed a resolution committing CAS to further engagement with our Family Practice Anesthetist (FPA) colleagues. FPAs are trained Family Physicians that have undergone an intensive 12-month residency in anesthesia, on top of the residency requirements to be licensed by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. FPAs are typically used in rural and remote settings but may be seen by governments as a way to address critical policy concerns.

Learn more about what CAS is doing:
 

all ONGOING ADVOCACY

November 17, 2023 

October 16, 2023 

june 23, 2023 

february 24, 2023 

august 22, 2022 

july 27, 2022

march 30, 2022

december 2021

December 2020

October 2020

June 2020

April 2020

May 2019

April 2018

March 2018

February 2018