Should engineering firms be regulated? APEGBC poses the question

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC) is asking members to submit their thoughts on an issue of critical importance to consulting engineering firms.  Members who wish to comment can do so online until August 28.

The association is looking into whether it should be regulating corporate practice.

In Ontario, for example, such a regulation is already in place, so that any engineer who wants to provide services directly to the public has to register for a Certificate of Authorization from Professional Engineers of Ontario.

APEGBC has set up an advisory task force to look into what it says is a “complex issue,” which revolves around its duty to protect the public. It points out: “The issue of corporate regulation is raised on an ongoing basis by members and organizations that look to APEGBC to ensure that practitioners and companies within various sectors meet the same quality assurance standards, particularly whenever major incidents involving engineering or geoscience in B.C. or elsewhere occur.”

The Advisory Task Force on Corporate Practice that is guiding the process of evaluation and consultation includes members and industry representatives from government, manufacturing and construction.

APEGBC says the responses it receives will be used to map out what corporate practice could look like in B.C., and will inform the second stage of the consultation process which will include a presentation at APEGBC’s Annual Conference in October.

The task force will deliver a final recommendation to Council in spring 2017 and then the council will consider whether to seek to acquire the necessary regulatory authority.

For more details, click here.

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