INNOVATION-July-August-2020

COVID-19 INTRODUCES SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO ENGINEERING AND GEOSCIENCE IN BC COVID-19 introduced sudden and significant economic and professional changes to the engineering and geoscience professions through impacts to individual registrants, their organizations, industries, and personal lives. Engineers and Geoscientists BC surveyed registrants to understand the current practice challenges and key issues facing the professions.

Survey respondents’ biggest concerns for their business or industry related to a potential global recession, difficulty with project and/or research funding, and organizational stability. The survey also sought feedback from senior decision-makers (i.e., registrants who identified themselves as owners, partners, or executives of their organizations) on broader organizational impacts. In terms of business continuity, respondents in this category said the most widespread organizational challenges were cancellation or postponement of contracts, projects being put on hold due to economic uncertainty, and regulatory delays due to government focus on COVID-19 related matters. Many organizations are also facing significant financial disruption, with 41 percent of these senior decision-makers anticipating at least a 25 percent loss of revenue. This anticipated financial impact was most pronounced in the mining, oil and gas, and manufacturing industries. The insights obtained from this survey will help inform how Engineers and Geoscientists BC can better support registrants with practice advice and guidance, to help registrants continue to meet their professional obligations in a changing work environment. For further information, including practice advice as well as understanding your professional obligations at this time, visit egbc.ca/COVID-19 . for Council election, renewal information, and professional practice advisories and guidelines related to your area of practice. COVID-19 has impacted many areas of our operating environment, including our communications methods. For the upcoming annual renewal cycle, Engineers and Geoscientists BC is encouraging registrants to pay their fees electronically to limit the amount of paper handled by staff. To avoid potential delays associated with paper communications, be sure to add or update your email address on your account. Visit egbc.ca/update-info and log in using your six-digit user ID number and password. These plans focus on a conservative financial approach to our operations to ensure that Engineers and Geoscientists BC is financially equipped to continue to meet our mandate to protect the public interest over the long term. The operating budget is created within clear guidelines set by Council and in compliance with the organization’s Sustainable Financial Management Policy. This policy, and Council’s approach to financial management, is provided at egbc.ca/Responsible-Financial-Management .

Over 2,800 registrants completed this survey between May 8 and June 6, sharing their perspectives on the impact COVID-19 has had on their professional practice, their organizations, and their industries. Like many other sectors, engineering and geoscience professions in BC have seen a significant shift in ways of working, according to survey results. Over 46 percent of respondents reported a full shift to remote working, which created challenges for in- person activities like field reviews and site inspections. To help overcome the challenges faced as a result of social distancing practices, many organizations implemented new work- from-home policies and increased the use of online collaboration tools, such as video conferencing, cloud software, and increased their use of virtual reality and artificial intelligence software. While the results highlighted the innovative and collaborative nature of the engineering and geoscience professions, the survey results also reflected underlying uncertainty among registrants. REMINDER: UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION In September, Engineers and Geoscientists BC will hold its annual Council election. And, in November, annual renewals will open for registrants to renew their licence with Engineers and Geoscientists BC for 2021. To make sure that you don’t miss essential renewal, Council election, and other important information, take a moment to sign into your account to ensure your email address and contact information are up to date. Maintaining current contact information means that Engineers and Geoscientists BC can reach registrants with important information throughout the year, including updates on the Professional Governance Act , which will come into force in November 2020, voting information

COUNCIL APPROVES 2020/2021 BUDGET WITH NO INCREASE TO REGISTRANT FEES At its May meeting, Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Council reviewed and approved the operating budget for the 2020/2021 fiscal year. There will be no increase to registrant fees for 2021. The registrant fee for a practicing professional engineer or professional geoscientist will remain at $472.50 including GST.

Engineers and Geoscientists BC recognizes the significant impact of COVID-19 , and has developed a number of contingency plans to account for the uncertainty and change introduced by the pandemic.

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