INNOVATION July-August 2018

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PROFESS IONAL REL IANCE REPORT RECOMMENDAT IONS TARGET GOVERNANCE , REGULATORY REV I EW BACKGROUND

appropriateness of contingency fee arrangements; guidance on thresholds for incompetent practice; and, guidance on determining sanctions. The second proposes that government standardize, through umbrella legislation, 10 elements of professional governance, including the authority to regulate firms, council authority to pass certain bylaws, requiring continuing professional development, clarifying public interest duties, and addressing codes of ethics, reporting duties, and whistleblower protection. In addition, the legislation would specify new rules for the composition of councils and committees, with the Office of Professional Regulation and Oversight taking on the role of vetting and appointing council and committee members, potentially eliminating council elections. IMPLICATIONS FOR REGULATING ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS Over the past several years, Engineers and Geoscientists BC has been proactively assessing ways in which the professional regulatory model can be improved, and has made a number of recommendations to government that support that goal. These tools include the ability to regulate engineering and geoscience companies, adding new tools to improve flexibility and responsiveness of regulators, and the ability to ensure competency of engineers and geoscientists through continuing professional development. We are pleased to see that government is committed to maintaining the current results-based regulatory model that relies on qualified professionals and we are gratified to see

The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has released the final report on the review of professional reliance in the natural resource sector. The report makes 34 recommendations under the categories of Professional Governance; Laws, Regulations and Authorizations; First Nations Engagement; Public Confidence; Natural Resource Information; and, Ministry Staffing Levels and Resources. The review was initiated in October 2017 with the goal of examining the current legislation governing qualified professionals in the natural resource sector, and the role their professional associations play in upholding the public interest. Engineers and Geoscientists BC was one of the five professional regulators named in the review’s Terms of Reference, along with the regulators of agrology, applied science technology, applied biology, and professional forestry. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS The two recommendations concerning professional governance are expected to have a significant impact on Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s role as regulator of the professions. The first suggests that government establish an independent Office of Professional Regulation and Oversight that would oversee the five associations subject to the review, and administer their legislation. The office would research and develop best practices for professional governance, such as those related to investigations and codes of conduct; the

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