INNOVATION November-December 2016

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

VOLUME 20 NUMBER 6

v iewpoint

In November, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) released its plan to implement and address the engineering-related recommendations set forth in the Elliot Lake inquiry report. In 2012, a portion of the roof at Elliot Lake’s Algo Mall collapsed, killing two people and injuring 19. The inquiry report, released in 2014, calls for extensive changes to Ontario’s building inspection system. Nine of the report’s recommendations relate to engineering. They include, among others, letting the public see engineers’ licence status on the PEO website, requiring that engineers make available any records in their possession or control that relate to a building’s structural integrity on request by those conducting inspections, and making continuing professional development mandatory for members. Implementing some recommendations will require changes to legislation that governs professional engineers in Ontario. As we heard this summer, Quebec engineers are also experiencing changes to how their profession is regulated. In July, the Quebec government placed the province’s engineering regulatory body under trusteeship, citing the organisation’s ability to carry out its primary mandate of public safety was in question. In BC, too, our regulatory landscape is changing. At APEGBC’s 97 th AGM in October, Ralph Sultan, P.Eng., MLA for West Vancouver–Capilano, told us that BC’s government is watching how self-regulating bodies are carrying out their duty to the public. I find this very sobering in light of the government’s actions in June, when it took over regulation of BC’s real estate industry. If you recall, the government stated at the time that it expects professional regulators in BC to prioritise protection of public interest and safety above all other responsibilities. As long as APEGBC continues to protect the people of this province, I expect our current regulatory responsibilities will continue. However, all that needs to happen for our situation to change very quickly is government to come to believe that APEGBC is not acting in the public’s interest. The government showed us this summer that, if it thinks such action is necessary, it acts quickly and unilaterally to change a profession’s regulatory model to protect the public. It’s possible that, if another catastrophic engineering- or geoscience-related event occurred here, the government would direct APEGBC to adjust its regulatory model to align it with those of other professional regulators in the province. Over the past few years, I and the other members on Council have been working to manage the risk associated with this changing regulatory landscape by demonstrating to government that public protection is a continual and driving consideration in the regulation of BC’s engineering and geoscience professions. APEGBC faces many challenges this year. We have much work to do to strengthen our relations with members and with government. I look forward to working with you—our members—Council, staff, and volunteers to make this happen.

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2 Tel: 604.430.8035 Fax: 604.430.8085 Email: apeginfo@apeg.bc.ca Internet: apeg.bc.ca Toll free: 1.888.430.8035 APEGBC COUNCIL 2016/2017 p reSident b ob S tewart , p.e ng . V iCe -p reSident d r . e d C aSaS , p.e ng . i mmediate p aSt p reSident d r . m iChael w rinCh , p.e ng ., feC, fgC (h on .) COUNCILLORS C.J.A. Andrewes, P.Eng.; S. Cheema, CA, CPA R. Farbridge, P.Eng.; C. Hall, P.Eng./P.Geo. S. Hayes, P.Eng.; K. Laloge, CPA, CA, TEP; S. Martin, P.Eng. C. Moser, P.Eng.; R.B. Nanson, P.Eng. S.R. Rettie, P.Eng., FEC; L. Spence, P.Eng. K.Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng., FEC; J. Turner, P.Ag. (ret); D. Wells, JD ASSOCIATION STAFF A.J. English, P.Eng. C hief e XeCutiVe o ffiCer and r egiStrar T.M.Y. Chong, P.Eng. C hief r egulatory o ffiCer and d eputy r egiStrar J.Y. Sinclair C hief o perating o ffiCer M.L. Archibald d ireCtor , C ommuniCationS and S takeholder e ngagement J. Cho, CGA d ireCtor , f inanCe and a dminiStration D. Gamble d ireCtor , i nformation S yStemS P.R. Mitchell, P.Eng. d ireCtor , p rofeSSional p raCtiCe , S tandardS and d eVelopment D. Olychick d ireCtor , m ember S erViCeS G.M. Pichler, P.Eng. d ireCtor , r egiStration

Charting a Course Through a Changing Regulatory Landscape

Bob Stewart, P.Eng. President

E. Swartz, LLB d ireCtor , l egiSlation , e thiCS and C omplianCe V. Lai, CGA a SSoCiate d ireCtor , f inanCe and a dminiStration M.A. Rigolo P.Eng., a SSoCiate d ireCtor , e ngineering a dmiSSionS m oniQue k eiran , m anaging e ditor

EDITORIAL BOARD K.C. Chan, P.Eng., CPA; S. Chiu, P.Eng. T. George, P.Eng.; H. Ghalibafian, P.Eng. G. Grill, P.Eng.; R. Gupta, P.Eng.; M.A. Klippenstein, P.Eng. A.M. Westin, GIT; M.J. Zieleman, EIT

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Innovation is published six times a year by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. As the official publication of the association, Innovation is circulated to members of the engineering and geoscience professions, architects, contractors and industry executives. The views expressed in any article contained herein do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Council or membership of this association. Submission Guidelines: Innovation encourages unsolicited articles and photos. By submitting material to Innovation , you grant APEGBC a royalty-free, worldwide licence to publish the material; and you warrant that you have the authority to grant such rights and have obtained waivers of all associated moral rights. Innovation reserves the right to edit material for length, clarity and conformity with our editorial guidelines (apeg.bc.ca/innovation-editorial) and is under no obligation to publish any or all submissions or any portion thereof, including credits. All material is copyright. Please contact the Managing Editor for reprint permission.

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