New advocacy body in Ontario

PROFESSION

Engineers in Ontario have a new organization dedicated to promoting their interests. A referendum held by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) resulted in 80 per cent support in favour of creating the advocacy body, now named the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE).

The new organization will take over member services, and is to be the voice of the profession, advancing the interests of engineers similar to the way the Ontario Medical Association and the Canadian Bar Association function for doctors and lawyers respectively.

The decision by Ontario engineers follows a groundswell movement in the province to create a separate advocacy body. The most outspoken proponents were the activists body “Engineers for Engineers.”

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers will be its own legal entity. PEO will keep its regulatory function as the public watchdog and licensing body. The two organizations may collaborate, however, on continuing education and professional development.

The first chair of the OSPE board is Jeremy Cook, P.Eng. A web site should be up and running this summer, and staff will eventually move into their own offices. PEO has agreed to grant initial support funds to OSPE for three years, using an additional levy on licensing fees. Full membership in the society will be voluntary at a cost of $50 annually.