Professional engineering associations agree to collaborate on enforcing licensing regulations

In a sign of cooperation and unity, the provincial engineering regulatory bodies across Canada have signed a landmark memorandum of understanding to work together on disciplining and enforcement issues. These issues include ensuring no-one practises as an engineer without a proper licence.
The 12 engineering licensing bodies from the provinces and territories signed the document at the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers’ annual general meeting in Calgary on May 24. The agreement will enable them to investigate collectively and take legal action jointly against individuals.
As with most professions in Canada, the regulation of Canada’s engineers falls under the jurisdiction and laws of the provinces and territories, but in 1999 the bodies signed an inter-association mobility agreement to make it easier for engineers to transfer their skills and practice out of their own provinces.
“Increasingly in Canada, engineers are licensed and practising in more than one province or territory,” said Marie Lemay, P.Eng., CEO of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE). “This agreement addresses the need for consistent discipline and enforcement activities among the engineering licensing bodies and will foster cooperation when they see the need to take joint action.”
Though the press releases issued by CCPE and Professional Engineers of Ontario don’t mention anything about a dispute with computer giant Microsoft, it could well be a factor influencing their decision to join forces. Microsoft has refused to back down on its practice of issuing graduates from its training courses a certificate and title as “Microsoft Engineers.” The engineering licensing bodies object to the title because it is illegal for someone to call themselves a professional engineer without having obtained the necessary university education, experience and license from them. Combining and presenting a united front will no doubt strengthen the position of the professional engineering association in taking action and prosecuting someone who holds themselves out as an engineer with the Microsoft certification.