Consulting Engineers of Ontario alarmed over Bill 124

Consulting Engineers of Ontario has asked for a meeting with the provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to discuss Bill 124. The legislation requires engineers involved in designing buildings to pass special examinations set by the Ministry and comes into effect this summer.
A three-page letter from John Gamble, president of CEO to the Honourable John Gerretsen dated January 26, 2005 and posed on CEO’s web site, says:
“We are very concerned that if the government proceeds with the implementation of Bill 124, most design firms may not be able to meet the requirements for designer registration and will therefore be unable to submit permit applications after July1, 2005 (regardless of whether or not they have been certified as ‘code knowledgeable’). Notwithstanding the original intent of Bill 124 to reduce red tape, Bill 124 may effectively shut down the $10 billion construction industry in Ontario — including any new building of water treatment plants, schools and hospitals.”
The insurance requirements of the new legislation are also threatening to be a huge stumbling block for engineering practitioners. Under a news item dated January 13, and entitled “Urgent – Bill 12 Fiasco Update,” CEO says they have been notified by the major professional liability insurance carriers Encon and XL Professional that they will not be providing insurance as required by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing under Bill 124.
See www.ceo.on.ca