Innovation-July-August-2023

R E G U L A T O R Y N E W S

NEW INDEPENDENT ADVOCACY BODY TO BE ESTABLISHED

Engineers and Geoscientists BC is initiating the creation of an independent advocacy body for engineers and geoscientists in BC. As the organization integrated the Professional Governance Act (PGA) regulations into its operations over the past two years, it became clear that it would need to adapt its operations to a regulatory-focused mandate. Under its former legislation, the Engineers and Geoscientists Act , the mandate of the organization encompassed regulation and advocacy for the professions. Under the PGA , Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s mandate is focused on the regulating the professions to ensure the public and environment are protected. Engineers and Geoscientists BC conducted a comprehensive review of its programs and activities, including those that were established under its former legislation and aligned more with an association than a regulatory body. During the course of this review, it was recognized that activities that do not necessarily connect to the organization’s mandate are still valuable. To that end, in April, the decision was made to establish a separate advocacy body, which is expected to be operational by July 2025. “Engineers and Geoscientists BC has undergone a significant evolution over the past three years,” said Heidi Yang, P.Eng., CEO. “With most PGA requirements now in place, we felt the time was right to make this change. "We needed to refocus our efforts to best deliver our regulatory mandate and advance our Strategic Plan, but in doing so we also wanted to find a way to retain valuable programs that have contributed to a strong and connected community of engineering and geoscience

professionals. Divesting advocacy activities to an independent organization creates clarity for both of our roles and allows regulation and advocacy for the professions to flourish.” KEY CHANGES Over the next two years, several programs and activities will be changing. Activities focused on community-building and registrant benefits programs are targeted to transition to the advocacy body. These include: ▶ The Branch program, which provides a way for professionals across the province to connect and network. The organization will be working closely with the many volunteers who have made this program successful to determine next steps. ▶ The Affinity Program, which offers Advertising program, which enables employers to recruit registrants for engineering and geoscience positions. These programs will remain in place at Engineers and Geoscientists BC until an appropriate timeline for transition can be determined. Other programs that no longer fit within the organization’s mandate as discounts on personal services for registrants, and our Career

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a regulator will stop within the next two years: ▶ The Awards program, which honours professionals who are nominated by their peers for career achievements. The program will be discontinued as of January 2024. ▶ Sponsorships, which provide financial support for external programs and events. This program will be discontinued later this year. ▶ The outreach program, which connects K-12 educators with engineers and geoscientists to promote interest in these professions. This program will be discontinued next year. ▶ The technical divisions, which serve as special-interest groups for specific areas of practice. Transition plans are

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