A call to action by a frustrated industry
October 1, 2000
By Dave Chalcroft
CHAIR'S REPORTA special planning meeting of the ACEC Board of Directors was held in Kananaskis, Alberta in June.It constituted a call to action by an industry eternally frustrated at the remuneration ...
CHAIR’S REPORT
A special planning meeting of the ACEC Board of Directors was held in Kananaskis, Alberta in June.
It constituted a call to action by an industry eternally frustrated at the remuneration of our industry relative to the business risks and professional responsibilities that we, as engineers, undertake for clients in the name of public health and safety. We recognized that despite Canada’s relatively positive economic climate, and the amount of work our industry is generally enjoying, profit margins remain discouragingly low. And we understood that we are not and will not be able to attract the “best and the brightest young minds” into our industry, or be able to maintain their continuing training requirements, if salary levels are not raised relative to other career options.
The Kananaskis meeting established an action plan to address these challenges over the coming years. We intend to wage an aggressive public relations campaign to demonstrate the significant role played by consulting engineers in the social and economic health of our country. We intend to help member firms to be the best-run businesses they can be and to enjoy remuneration commensurate with their qualifications and experience. We will continue to work to influence public policy so that the economic environment within which members operate is profitable and conducive to business. We intend to keep a close eye on future trends in the industry to enable member firms to adjust to market changes and opportunities in a planned and efficient way. At the same time we intend to broaden the membership of our association to allow much greater interaction with potential partners and suppliers from complementary industries.
Each of these goals requires the industry’s commitment and the direct involvement of hundreds of new volunteers in the work of our provincial and national associations. Many firms involved in the capital projects market do not belong to our association but thanks to recent by-law changes they may now be eligible as full or associate members.
I appeal to you to join in the campaign and reap the benefits of our collective efforts. I invite all readers to contact us at 1-800-565-0569 to become involved.
DAVE CHALCROFT, P.ENG., CHAIR
ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS OF CANADA
