Debbie Tarshis

Debbie Tarshis practises in the areas of professional regulation, health law and privacy. She acts as general counsel to professional regulatory Colleges and provides advice on all policies, procedures and programs to regulate the professions in the public interest. She has also developed leading expertise in the interpretation and implementation of federal and provincial privacy legislation. Debbie is also chair of WeirFoulds' Professional Self-Regulatory Bodies Practice Group.

Debbie acts as general counsel to professional regulatory bodies, including providing ongoing advice to the Colleges’ Registrars, boards of directors and committees on all of their policies, procedures and programs to regulate the professions in the public interest. She provides advice to the Colleges on legislative initiatives that affect their statutory mandate and the practice of the professions, and assists in preparing submissions to government advisory bodies and legislative standing committees. She also assists in the drafting and negotiation with government officials of regulations to be made under the relevant statute and their presentation to government from a policy and legal perspective. She has advised newly established regulatory bodies in developing their regulatory frameworks, by-laws, and policies and procedures, and existing regulatory bodies in adding and integrating a new profession into an existing regulatory framework.

In health law matters, Debbie provides advice on legislation affecting the health care sector and issues related to patient safety, scopes of practice of health professionals, regulation of new professions, privacy and confidentiality of personal health information, and policies and procedures related to registration, complaints, discipline, patient relations, quality assurance and fitness to practise processes. Debbie is recognized as a leading practitioner in Health Care Law by Best Lawyers® in Canada.

Debbie has developed leading expertise in the impact of privacy legislation on key stakeholders in the health care, research, professional regulatory and social services sectors. Debbie has provided advice on the impact of federal and provincial privacy legislation. She has provided advice to organizations on compliance with privacy legislation and the handling of privacy breaches.