INNOVATION January-February 2016

counc i l repor t

Application Fee Waived for Designated Refugees The Government of Canada has committed to resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees before March 1, 2016, with 1,900 expected in British Columbia. This is in addition to as many as 25,000 other refugees resettled in Canada each year from other countries. The numbers of refugees arriving in British Columbia will likely include engineers and geoscientists, some of whom may apply for registration in the next year. APEGBC is considering methods and policies that will allow it to address the unique challenges presented by refugee applicants who cannot access their academic documentation or lack other conventional means by which to prove their qualifications, or who may be unable to fund their applications for professional registration. In response, Council has approved a motion that exempts designated refugees who apply for enrollment, registration or licence from payment of the application (examination of credentials) fee. Designated refugees meet the criteria of “refugee” under the 1951 Geneva Convention or the definition of a “person in need of protection” under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act . (More, on page 34.) The exemption practice will be revisited in November 2016. Three New Key Performance Indicators At council’s request, staff provided additional Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to measure progress on the Strategic Plan: budgeted surplus/ deficit vs. actual surplus/deficit; percentage of Active Members, who have practice rights and are female; and percentage of new registrants (excluding non-resident licensees) who are female. The new KPI were approved. Amendment Request for Addressing Public Safety Bylaws Arising from discussion of the results of the CPD bylaw vote, Council considered the issue of how bylaws are approved and the challenges this may pose to how the association is able to deliver on its duty. The current ratification model, which requires that all bylaws be ratified by two-thirds of voting members in order to pass, has the potential to lead to situations in which APEGBC’s ability to deliver on its core duty is at risk, leaving it with limited ability to enact change or respond to issues that significantly impact public safety. After serious consideration, APEGBC Council has decided to request a legislative amendment from government that would enable Council to pass bylaws, without member ratification, on

Motions from the 2015 AGM Council considered four motions from the 2015 AGM in October, which were carried by members. Motion 1: That Council consider publishing in the financial reports the total compensation (the sum of salaries and benefits) for all staff who receive over $100,000 per annum, as well as their reimbursed expenses. Council referred this motion to the Executive Committee for analysis, and directed that a recommendation be delivered to Council by April 2015. Motion 4: That Council consider the inclusion of territorial acknowledgement in all meetings. Council referred this motion to the Executive Committee for analysis, and directed that a recommendation be delivered to Council by February 2015. Motion 6: That Council consider increasing its transparency and accountability to members, whereby all members may access the association’s website, in an easy and timely way, in order to view all agendas and supporting materials of Council meetings that are deemed “open.” Council referred this motion to the CEO for analysis, and directed that a recommendation be delivered to Council by February 2015. Motion 7: That Council consider revising the current voluntary CPD tracking guidelines and the online system to better reflect the simplified tracking as recommended by the CPD Committee. As this matter is already on the agenda for the CPD Committee, no additional direction from Council is required. Approval of Budget Guidelines for 2016/2017 Now in the third year of its three-year budgeting process, Council approved guidelines for the creation of APEGBC’s 2016/2017 budget. The guidelines re-emphasise commitment to APEGBC’s Sustainable Financial Management Policy and the application of the Strategic Plan, as well as the intent to maintain current annual professional member fees for 2017 and strive for financial self-sustainability on a direct-cost basis. APEGBC’s council of elected members and government representatives meets throughout the year to conduct the business of association governance. The following are the highlights of the November 27, 2015, meeting.

15

J AN UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y 2 016

i n n o v a t i o n