Thank you for the question.
Pain doctors are not the only professionals who can prescribe an exemption. A psychiatrist can also do so if mental health is an issue. Some people say that they are being treated by a psychiatrist for mental health issues. Having discussed this, I know that the issue of psychiatrists is truly a problem in some parts of the country, particularly in Saskatchewan. One of your colleagues raised this issue with me, and rightly so. These people can consult a psychiatrist and obtain an exemption. The policy does not rule out this option. It specifies pain specialists and psychiatrists. These are the two types of doctors that people can consult.