Driving With Purpose
October 1, 2009
By
Canadian Consulting Engineer
I am honoured to be the 2009-10 Chairman of the Board of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies. One of the first things you will note is the use of our new name. As a result of a members...
I am honoured to be the 2009-10 Chairman of the Board of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies. One of the first things you will note is the use of our new name. As a result of a membership consultation earlier this year, the members of the association voted at the Annual General Meeting in June to change the name of the association to reflect our role as consulting engineers, but to retain the concept that we represent firms in our industry. This we feel will resonate with a broader base of our membership.
Over the next year, a number of initiatives remain of important focus at the association. One key priority will be advocating for the implementation of infrastructure spending measures that will ensure predictable, sustainable infrastructure funding over the long term. There is a well documented massive infrastructure deficit which must be addressed by all levels of government. For the social and economic wellbeing of all Canadians, as well as for the benefit of our members, the focus on upgrading our infrastructure must not waver with the end of the current stimulus funding.
Another initiative that has gained significant momentum is the official roll-out of the student promotional video. The campaign entitled “Engineering Legacies” was created in order to address the recurring problem of labour shortage and supply that persists in our industry. The video has received positive praise from students who are gaining awareness of the exciting and rewarding opportunities that exist for them in consulting engineering. ACEC has visited a number of universities across the country over the course of the last year, and will continue in full force with its “Cross Canada Tour” slated for 2009-2010.
The persistent promotion of Qualifications-Based Selection is another top priority with a number of activities taking place, including lobbying key government departments and the creation of an InfraGuide Best Practice-QBS course to teach government officials how to implement a QBS procurement system.
ACEC will collaborate again this year with magazine to honour and celebrate the best the industry has to offer this November 3, 2009 in Ottawa. We hope to see you all there!
ANDY ROBINSON, P. ENG., CHAIR, ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES (ACEC)
