THE PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE: COUNCIL
As public members appointed by the Government of Alberta to APEGA Council, it is our duty to provide oversight in the interest of public safety. We are an essential outside voice, bringing to the table our governance experience and the expertise of our professions. We participated in all Council meetings in 2017 and various working groups and committees. This is our assessment. On the eve of APEGA’s 100th anniversary, the organization faces huge challenges. The public is demanding stronger regulatory control in the wake of such scandals as the collapse of Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake, Ontario, where poor engineering design and inspection killed two persons. In Quebec, there was the unethical awarding of construction contracts, which led to the Charbonneau Commission hearings and their damning conclusions. Across the Atlantic in London, there was the deadly horror of the Grenfell Tower fire. Yet the legislation by which APEGA members can be disciplined is old and antiquated, lacking in the investigative powers found in other regulatory legislation. It has been a challenge for the association to use the few effective provisions available. In the last 10 years, APEGA’s professional membership has grown from about 36,000 members to almost 60,000, an increase of 58 per cent and a staggering load for an organization to absorb. In 2017 alone, almost 6,000 new applications were processed. These two factors—growth and old legislation— continue to put pressure on the organization to provide timely, effective services and regulatory functions for members and the public. But there is also a human side to these statistics. The downturn in the Alberta economy had a profound effect on many members, especially in Calgary, where the city was rocked by round upon round of layoffs. The membership has needed help in coping with the new economic situation.
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APEGA Annual Report 2017
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