LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
Starting the Conversation APEGA Adopts Champions Collaborative to Gather Member Feedback On Changes to The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act
It is often said that every good conversation begins with good listening. This spring, a special team of APEGA volunteers are putting that wisdom into practice as they consult their peers in a major review of The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act (EGP Act) . Drawn from across the province, they make up the Champions Collaborative, whose purpose it is to discuss regulatory issues and the contents of the Act. The collaborative is a major piece of the APEGA Legislative Review, which is a business plan priority for the Association. APEGA has adopted this collaborative model as a way to spur meaningful conver- sation about The EGP Act . The collaborative is made up of about 40 Members, working together to stimulate discussion of key issues and explore solutions. Representing Members, Permit Holders and APEGA statu- tory boards and committees, the Champions will share what they hear with the Associa- tion’s legislative review team. The EGP Act hasn’t gone through a major update since the 1980s, but over the past three decades there have been significant changes within the Engineering and Geoscience Professions and the myriad of industries that rely upon them. An updated Act will be clearer and more relevant than the current version, improving the self-regulatory process and protection of the public. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contribute to the professions,” says one of the Champions, Roghoyeh Salmeh, P.Eng., a project manager with ATCO Electric in Calgary. “The Association is being proactive by making changes to the legislation so it remains relevant in today’s society.” The APEGA Legislative Review team has heard concerns in surveys of the orga- nization’s statutory boards and committees.
“We’re examining important topics,” says APEGA Registrar Carol Moen, P.Eng. “We encourage everyone to bring their insights and solutions forward in detail during our Member consultations.” Champion Samantha Oler, P.Eng., a senior engineer with ATCO Gas, Lethbridge District Operations, says that one of the greatest impacts will be increased effi- ciencies within self-regulating processes. “By expressly delegating some authority, I speculate that administration will be more streamlined and run more effectively,” says Ms. Oler. In the months ahead, Dr. Salmeh, Ms. Oler and other Champions from across Alberta will be out in their communities — from Grande Prairie in the north to Lethbridge in the south — sparking important dialogues about self-regulation and legislative changes. Presentations, webinars, town hall meetings and information sessions will be held from April until the end of June, giving Members the chance to share their opinions and ideas. While part of the legislative review includes minor revisions, key topics have emerged related to scope of practice, the Registrar’s authority and membership categories. Another important topic being addressed is the licensing of internationally educated graduates. In the long term, demand for Profes- sional Engineers and Geoscientists in
Alberta is forecast to be strong, and inter- nationally educated professionals are part of the solution. “The legislation and regula- tions need to support these opportunities while maintaining public safety,” says Champion Craig Maunder, P.Eng., Superin- tendent of Operations for the City of Medi- cine Hat Municipal Works Department.
66 | PEG SPRING 2015
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