INNOVATION January-February 2016

Qualification-based Selection Website Clarifies Process The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACEC-BC) recently launched an online qualification-based selection (QBS) resource. The resource, which is available at www.yes2qbs.com, provides a systematic and transparent process for selecting qualified professional engineering services. This new online resource aims to help municipalities and others implement effective procurement practices, and brings together studies, guides, templates and resources to support QBS implementation. ACEC-BC is British Columbia’s provincial association of engineering consulting firms. It represents consulting engineering companies located in British Columbia that provide engineering and other technology-based intellectual services. One of the organization’s goals is to help clients secure cost-effective designs that ultimately result in safe and efficient projects. By supporting QBS and providing the new website, ACEC-BC seeks to ensure that the most qualified professional design- services providers are hired at a reasonable and realistic cost and that, as a result, projects are completed safely, on time and within budget. Public Consultations Begin for BC’s Climate Leadership Plan The team of BC business, community, First Nations, academic and environmental leaders appointed by Premier Christy Clark last May to advise and recommend to the BC Government on how the province may meet its climate-action targets has submitted 32 recommendations for consideration. The Climate Leadership Team’s recommendations include items addressing carbon pricing and offsets, fiscal policy, industry policy, targets, and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within three broad sectors—the Built Environment, Industry and Transportation. (See engage.gov.bc.ca/climateleadership/files/2015/11/CLT-recommendations-to- government_Final.pdf for the recommendations.) The BC Government is now studying the recommendations and engaging in public consultations. Together, these will help inform development of a new provincial strategy—called the Climate Action Plan—to reduce greenhouse gases, support a carbon-neutral economy and encourage economic development, while protecting the affordability of BC families and maintaining the competitiveness of BC businesses. The Climate Action Plan is scheduled to be completed by April.

McElhanney is pleased to announce our new Strategic Transportation Planning Division, which further expands the company’s transportation planning services to provide clients with enhanced service offerings across Western Canada. To learn more please visit: www.mcelhanney.com/appointments Or contact: Peta Wolmarans: pwolmarans@mcelhanney.com Basse Clement: bclement@mcelhanney.com McElhanney Establishes Strategic Transportation Planning Division

Basse Clement, PEng, Senior Transportation Planner

Peta Wolmarans, MCRP, Division Manager: Strategic Transportation Planning

www.mcelhanney.com

Engineering | Surveying | Mapping | Community Planning | Environmental

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