Wedding plans between B.C. technologists and engineers delayed

Plans for professional engineers to merge with technologists in British Columbia have been delayed. In the spring of 2003, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. (APEGBC) voted to join its organization with the Association of Technologists and Technicians of B.C. (ASTTBC).

However, the B.C. government decided early this year not to introduce the necessary legislation changes in the spring 2004 session as they had originally intended. Instead, the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education, which is responsible for supporting the province’s Engineers and Geoscientists Act, indicated that the legislation would be introduced in the spring 2005 session.

Most recently, at its May 27 meeting, the APEGBC Council announced it would not be able to formalize the legal agreements between the two organizations even in time for the 2005 Legislative Session.

Though the associations are disappointed by the delay, they said they still support the merger. They said they will use the extra time to sort out aspects of the merger and to have more consultation with their members.

There are myriad details to consider in combining the two sets of practitioners, including how their scope of practice will be defined. Before the May meeting APEGBC had already formulated some practice guidelines that were supposed to be ready for review. However, the associations have put that part of the merger project on hold and postponed holding forums on practice guidelines until later winter or next spring. In the meantime, they will try to move ahead on legal formalities related to the merger, such as doing due diligence.

Canadian Consulting Engineer ran a discussion feature on the merger of the organizations in its January-February 2004 issue entitled "Wedding Nerves." Visit www.canadianconsultingengineer.com (click on Archives).