Leslie, THE REAL THREAT to Ontario opticians AND OD’s is this “society of eye care professionals that’s popped up in the last few days. This “society” is run by Mr. Khan who if you didn’t know also runs the “Academy” of ophthalmic education and also runs the “Khan group” and he was the chairman of the former board of ophthalmic dispenser until 1985 and was instrumental in implementing the mandatory continuing education for opticians (education is a good thing, but follow the path that this has taken him).
To elaborate, he’s a huge fundraiser for the PC party in Ontario, which may not seem like much to anyone but follow the progress of his career for a moment. Back in the ‘80’s he was the chairman of the board, which gave him endless opportunity to “rub” elbows with the politico’s at Queens Parks (remember the “big blue machine” that ran Ontario until 1985). Like the PC party, he fell off the map for a few years until 1995 (same year as the Mike Harris “common sense revolution” came into power) when his “Khan Group” started offering educational courses to opticians across the province.
Since then his “Khan Group/Academy” has offered continuing education to opticians, his only competition, the provincial & national Associations. I say associations because the “Academy” is now providing continuing education to OD’s as well.
He’s also had a beef with the College of Opticians of Ontario for some time now, look back at the newsletter that was published earlier this year. If you’ve ever attended an “Academy” education day you’re probably on the mailing list and would have received this newsletter in the mail, newsletter was more of a slag on the College and not so much a newsletter.
But wait, it gets better. If you go on the Ontario Association of Optometrist website (
www.optom.on.ca), it’s hard to find it, but his son Farooq is a director on the OD’s association. Wait there’s more, now go to the College of Opticians of Ontario website (
www.coptont.org), and look up the current council members, his other son Fazal is on the College council. So dad is criticizing decisions that the his own son had a hand in crafting(?) as well as competing again his other sons organization for continuing education dollars. Continuing education that was mandated by the board, when you-know-who was the chairman.
Here comes the punch-in-the-mouth. Go to the “Academy” website (
www.aoece.com) and look up the faculty, both of his sons are board members, never mind that the entire board of the “Academy” is completely family, no that’s not a concern at all.
So lets recap for a moment, you have the former chairman of the board who implemented continuing education 20 years ago now running a business who’s sole business is providing continuing education and his only competitors are the OD’s association (which his son serves on as a director) and the opticians association. Also, he’s blatantly criticized the College infinitely about everything under the sun (a College which has one of his sons on the board) and now he’s started a “Society of Eye Care Professionals” which will be the “voice of opticians in Ontario.”
Notice the words “Eye Care Professionals.” Not optician, “Eye Care Professionals.” My friends this is what its come down too. Within a few years you will see the “society” attempt to expand its memberships base to include not only opticians, but OD’s as well. This is something that not a lot of us have been paying attention to, but we should. Why, because this is his endgame. A “society” that represents opticians & OD’s, not so much an association or College, but an amalgamation of the two. How you ask, look to our neighbours to the south for the answer. In the US, opticians and OD’s are regulated for the most through professional trade society/boards that have no status as health care providers but are on par with trades people for the most part.
You’ll see in a few years if/when the next PC party governs Ontario that the issue of deregulation will come forward yet again, same as it has for the past 20 years. Its no coincidence that deregulation rears its ugly head every time the PC party is in power. THINK ABOUT IT. Who’s whispering this idea of deregulation in the politicians ear? The difference this time is that there will be a new player on the field claiming to be the unified “voice of opticians & OD’s,” a player who will make the proposal that his organization is not only a feasible “society” but also a capable regulator of OD’s and opticians. The catch, neither one of the professions OD’s or opticians will be seen as health care providers, but will be looked upon as trades people governs, regulated and controlled by their “society” a “society” solely owned & operated by one man, his sons and their cronies.
The worst part of this whole thing is that the funds the “society” will use to promote deregulate will come from “society” membership fees paid by ill-informed members of both professions.
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. -
Socrates
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