REGULATORY
Continuing the Conversation APEGA is exploring proposed changes to our governing legislation, and we need Member input. Consultations over the past year have already gathered feedback from thousands of stakeholders — and the process continues into 2016. If you want to have a say in how the engineering and geoscience professions are governed in Alberta, there’s still time to bring your perspective to the table
FALL CONSULATIONS FEATURE REVIEW OF 15 MORE TOPICS
The past year was a pivotal one for APEGA’s legislative review process. Much happened in a short period of time, but we’re pleased to report that we’ve made tangible progress on this strategic priority to review and reimagine the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act (EGP Act). Below is an update on what we’ve accomplished and what lies ahead in 2016.
During fall consultations in October and November, discussions centered on proposed improvements to regulatory efficiencies. Represented in the 15 topics examined, among other changes, were:
• proposed increases to disciplinary and other fines • how best to inform the public about disciplined Members and Permit Holders • how best to inform the public about unlicensed individuals and companies without Permits to Practice practising or suggesting that they practise • changes to APEGA’s investigative process • changes in APEGA’s registration appeals process • changes in the Registrar’s authority Feedback was collected until mid-December and the information gathered will be compiled into another report for Council’s consideration. In February, we’ll share Council’s decisions on the information. COMMITTED TO CHANGE To date, over 2,200 Members and Permit Holders have provided feedback on the proposed recommendations, through dozens of consultations and meetings, and online feedback. At the centre of the legislative review are the concentrated efforts of Members, Permit Holders, APEGA’s senior leaders, and APEGA’s Council, working together to address more than 180 pro- posed legislative changes. By the end of March, we’ll have processed about 160 of these proposed changes. This includes 47 that were dropped because they were duplicated or were administrative in nature and addressed elsewhere.
COUNCIL ENDORSES RECOMMENDATIONS — WITH A FEW CHANGES
At a special meeting on October 6, APEGA Council endorsed all six proposed recommendations in the We’re Listening: Spring 2015 Consultation Summary . This report, available online at apegalegislativereview.ca, includes full details on the six recommendations, as well as the feedback gathered from Members during our spring consultations. Topics reviewed last spring relate to Member-in-Training, Licensee, Professional Licensee, and Student membership categories, as well as issues surrounding the Registrar and statutory boards’ authority to delegate and Alberta Building Code exemptions. In response to feedback represented in the report, Council’s endorsement included some clarifications to three of the six proposed recommendations. Council decided: • to place a limit on the number of Members-in-Training (M.I.T.s) who can run for Council (to be determined by the Nominating Committee) and a limit on the number of M.I.T. positions on Council • to create a new Limited Licence designation that includes the word Professional • to remove the requirement for a Professional Member to be a Canadian citizen or have permanent residence status. However, a Professional Member must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent residence status to run for Council
32 | PEG WINTER 2015
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