Innovation-July-August-2023

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underway to transfer division activities to current or new advisory groups. The organization will also be targeting some specific areas defined under the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance’s Standards of Good Regulation. These include: ▶ Enhancing engagement with post secondary students and institutions to reinforce licensure requirements. ▶ Investing more resources in equity, journey of truth and reconciliation. As part of its efforts to enhance EDI practices, Engineers and Geoscientists BC will be amalgamating the Women in Engineering and Geoscience Division and the 30x30 Champions Network to create an EDI Working Group that will continue to support the recruitment and retention of women in the professions, but with a broader approach that also focuses on other equity-deserving groups and the intersections between them. NEXT STEPS FOR THE ADVOCACY BODY The advocacy body will be established through a steering committee that will select the group’s inaugural board of directors. The steering committee is expected to be in place by August 2023. Engineers and Geoscientists BC will be providing $250,000 in initial seed money to support the establishment of the advocacy body. The advocacy body's board is expected to be in place this fall and will determine programs, services and membership costs. MORE INFORMATION As this work progresses, registrants will be updated through the website, eNews, and Innovation . Registrants who are interested in participating in this process can learn more at egbc.ca/advocacybody . diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives, including advancing the organization’s

4.When will the advocacy body be formed? The first step is to establish a steering committee by August 2023, which will select the advocacy body’s inaugural board. The advocacy body is expected to be operating by July 2025. 5. What kind of services will be offered? How much will fees be? Some of Engineers and Geoscientists BC's valued programming will transition to the advocacy body, including the Affinity Program, career advertising service, and the Branch program. Overall programs, services, and fees will be decided by the advocacy body. 6. What benefits will registrants see as a result of these changes? Since the introduction of the PGA , registrants have requested the organization do more to support registrants’ interests. Since this is not allowable under the PGA , two separate organizations, each focused on a clear and distinct mandate, will best allow regulation and advocacy to flourish. The advocacy body can dedicate resources to activities that promote the professions. 7. Will this be paid for by registrant fees? No. Engineers and Geoscientists BC will be providing $250,000 in initial seed money to support the advocacy body in getting established, but these funds will be taken from revenues from the career advertising service and the Affinity Program, not from registrant licensing fees. To view online, go to egbc.ca/About/ Programs-Initiatives/Advocacy-Body Webpage/Frequently-Asked-Questions .

1. Why is this change happening now? Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s first priority has always been public protection. For most of the organization’s life, it has juggled a mandate and legislative structure that has pulled it in two directions: public protection and registrants’ interests. The public and government expect professional regulators to maintain a clear and unwavering focus on public protection. The introduction of the PGA and our new Strategic Plan created a need for us to review our activities to ensure our resources are focused on our core accountability of public protection. 2. Was this decision initiated by government? No. This work was initiated by Engineers and Geoscientists BC to align the organization’s resources to effectively deliver on the organization’s public protection mandate and its Strategic Plan with its vision of modern regulation for a resilient world. 3. Why are some programs being discontinued? Each of the programs and activities reviewed was measured against the organization’s core accountability as a regulator: public protection. The organization's responsibility to government and the public is to ensure that our operations and resources remain focused on regulation. This led to an important but difficult decision to end some of these programs in the next year, while maintaining others in the expectation of transferring them to the advocacy body.

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