November 2004

Annual Report of PEG's President & Executive Director, October 2004

President's Report
Gervase White, P. Eng.
Immediate Past President

Gervase White, P. Eng.

“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. October is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” Dr. Seuss

Yes, it seems that my term as president has ended before it really began. It has been a pleasure and an honour to serve our professions over the past three years and I look forward to many more years of involvement with PEG.

LINKAGES

Government 
Maintaining linkages is Council’s most important role under our policy governance model. That is the consultation with the PEG’s owners, Government, the Public, Members and others who influence the practice of engineering and geoscience. In that way, Council monitors the opinions and views of the owners and guides us in setting policies, which direct the regulation of the engineering and geoscience professions.

Linkage with the Newfoundland and Labrador government this year has been like starting over. PEG had made continuous linkages with the former Liberal government; however, with the election of the new Conservative government last fall it was, and remains, necessary that we establish relationships with a new set of ministers including, of course, Premier Williams.

A short meeting with the Premier early in his term simply served to introduce him to PEG. President Elect Colbourne will be meeting the Premier later to discuss issues of interest to engineers and geoscientists. We met Minister of Government Services, The Honourable Dianne Whalen. Her department is responsible for the Engineers and Geoscientists Act. Also, we met with The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment and The Honourable Ed Byrne, Minister of Natural Resources.

The issues discussed in these meetings included: our Act; the National Building Code; licensure of government employed engineers and geoscientists; engagement of PEG members in major projects in this province; and many other topics.

MUN 
Memorial University is one of PEG’s most important stakeholders. In particular, Council believes that it is very important that PEG maintain strong linkages with MUN’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and Department of Earth Science. We want to maintain and, where possible, improve our positive relationship with MUN and will make every effort to do so.

As we all know, the majority of PEG Members are Memorial Alumni and clearly most new members will also come from MUN. It is therefore very important to PEG that the programs offered there continue to meet the needs of industry and the professions, and that an effort is made to facilitate a common understanding of the concerns and desires of both groups. Linkages with the President, Deans and Department Heads (and, when possible, Faculty members) for each of the faculties involved will help to develop a cordial relationship and environment in which issues may be addressed.

Recently, two ex-officio positions were created on Council. Both the Dean of Engineering and Applied Science and the Head of the Earth Science Department were invited to participate at Council meetings. A similar arrangement existed in the past but had been discontinued. The current Council believes that re-establishment of these positions will provide another very strong link between Council and MUN.

PEG will continue to have a member on the Engineering Faculty Council, which also gives a valuable connection between the organizations. Past President Karen Thomas, P.Eng. currently fills that position. Council has requested that PEG be given a similar position on the Earth Science Departmental committee. This matter will be addressed when the new permanent Department Head is appointed early in 2005.

Council held its regular meeting at the Engineering Faculty boardroom on June 18, 2004. This visit provided Council members with an opportunity to meet with faculty and to learn first hand of current events at MUN.

NATIONAL ISSUES

IAMA
In June 1999, the 12 Canadian provincial/territorial professional engineering licensing bodies signed the Inter-Association Mobility Agreement (IAMA). That agreement which facilitates easy transfer or registration in multiple jurisdictions by Canadian professional engineers expired in June 2004.

The IAMA was introduced because of the recognized need for improved inter-provincial mobility of both relocating and non-resident licensed engineers in Canada. Generally, under the agreement any professional engineer, registered with one of the 12 Canadian licensing bodies, who applies for registration with another will be accepted without further review of their credentials.

The consensus of the associations is that, while there have been a few instances of non-compliance by the associations, the agreement has worked well and PEG Council concurred with that view. The Canadian Council of Professional Engineers facilitated the re-signing of the IAMA by PEG and the other 11 associations in May. The renewed agreement is in effect for an indefinite term.

A similar agreement is in place among the provincial/territorial geoscience licensing bodies. That agreement does not expire until May 2006.

FC21 
From Consideration to Integration (FC2I) is a project of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE) in partnership with the Government of Canada, designed to facilitate the integration of international engineering graduates into the Canadian engineering profession. With the concurrence of the 12 Canadian provincial/territorial member associations of CCPE, work began over a year ago and Phase I, an environmental scan of the current situation facing international engineering graduates (IEGs), was completed in October 2003.

Phase II, completed in July, determined where the process of integration needs improvement; developed models, processes and tools to better equip IEGs; and developed consistent and transparent foreign credential recognition processes for licensing purposes. The specific recommendations of the CCPE committees working on the project were presented to Council and received our full support. CCPE is now proceeding with the implementation phase of the project.

The integration of international engineering graduates into the Canadian engineering profession is a serious challenge for the engineering associations in the larger provinces like Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Professional Engineers of Ontario receives applications from up to 3,000 IEGs annually. PEG receives relatively few applications from IEGs and we are able to process them without unusual challenges. Nevertheless, it is necessary that PEG be involved in FC2I as any approach to the licensure of international graduates will require a national Canadian solution.

REGULATORY ISSUES

The Act 
For years now we have discussed Government’s intention to make changes to the Engineers and Geoscientists Act. We have continued to consult with government on this matter but, in short, there has been no substantial progress made in introducing the changes.

Voting Rights of MIT's 
Following the issuance of ballots for the 2003 Council elections, a conflict between the Engineers and Geoscientists Act and the PEG By-Laws was noted. Of course, in such cases the Act supersedes the By-Laws.

In 2000, the By-Laws were revised to provide eligibility of Members-in-Training (MITs) for membership on Council and permitting them to vote in Council elections. In fact, these changes were made in error. Therefore, for the 2004 election MITs must be again excluded. Council still intends to follow the wishes of the members in this regard and will be seeking amendments to the Act to allow for the re-introduction of the related By-law changes.

Licensees 
Currently, Licensees are persons licensed to practice engineering or geoscience that are not Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. Originally under the Act, all members not resident in Newfoundland and Labrador were registered as Licensees; however, in 1995, we were notified by Government of passing of the Agreement on Internal Trade Amendment Act, and that as a result we could not, for membership purposes, “discriminate” against Canadians who were non-residents of this province. Thus, the current arrangement.

Recently, we were advised that the above referenced Act while passed was not proclaimed by Government and that as a result the definition of Licensee in our Act still prevails. Therefore, members who are not residents of Newfoundland and Labrador are again Licensees.

Government says that it intends to proclaim the Act but cannot say when.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, I thank all members of Council for their support and work over the past year. We worked well together as a Council and fulfilled our role. I also thank Steve McLean, Daisy Foster, PEG staff and all PEG volunteers who work hard to have us meet our mission.

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Executive Director's Report

Steve McLean, P. Eng.

PEG Council has now operated under policy governance for five years, which coincides with my term as Executive Director. Under the policy governance model, Council establishes and updates policies that guide and direct the regulation of the engineering and geoscience professions and direct the administration of PEG. At each Council meeting the Executive Director provides reports that keep Members of Council informed on progress in fulfilling Council’s objectives.

This report will capture a number of issues and activities which have been addressed this past year in the fulfillment of the PEG mandate.

PEG Privacy Policy 

The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) is Canadian federal legislation that governs the collection, use and disclosure of personal information. The objective of this legislation is to balance the right of privacy of individuals with respect to their personal information, against the need of organizations such as PEG to collect, use or disclose personal information for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances. PIPEDA came into effect on January 1, 2004.

We have developed a privacy policy that is intended to permit PEG to comply with the requirements of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act and PIPEDA. Many of the activities of PEG that can be classified as regulatory are not covered by PIPEDA with only so-called commercial activities being subject to the Act. Nevertheless, in its regulatory role, PEG will strive to balance the requirement for use and disclosure of personal information with the privacy needs of members. The PEG Privacy Policy can be viewed at our website, www.pegnl.ca.

New Professional Development Program 

PEG members were informed in 2003 of the intended changes to the Professional Development Program to take place on January 2005. Briefing and consultation sessions were held at the 2003 AGM and at chapter meetings in St. John’s, Clarenville, Marystown, Grand Falls and Corner Brook over the past year.

The reaction and feedback received at these sessions, together with input from members who participated in a pilot of the program, allowed the Professional Development Review Committee to finalize the program design. Recently, the 2005 Professional Development Program Guideline was released on the PEG website. All members will receive copies of the guideline later this fall.

Discipline Procedures Handbook 

Discipline Committee Chair, Dr. Ross Peters, and the committee members undertook a complete re-write of the PEG Discipline Procedures Handbook over the past year. This document which guides the Discipline Committee, PEG staff, complainants and members through the disciplinary process is an extremely valuable tool.

The revision of the nearly 100 page document was quite an undertaking and the Committee Members, especially Dr. Peters, are to be commended for their efforts. The Handbook is now receiving a legal review and will be printed and published on-line this fall.

Attracting MUN Engineering and Geoscience Graduates 

A PEG study has determined that since 1974 only about 45 percent of MUN Engineering graduates have remained in Newfoundland and Labrador. Anecdotally, we know the same can be said for graduates of the MUN Earth Science programs. Everyone understands the reasons why people leave our province and it seems that circumstance will not change in the near future. Nevertheless, MUN graduates represent most of the new membership in PEG..

By far the majority of MUN engineering graduates who reside in the province have become licensed with PEG. Nevertheless, to ensure that new graduates are attracted to PEG and become registered at the earliest possible date, we have undertaken a number of projects in recent years to better inform students and recent graduates about professional licensure.

With the support of the Dean, faculty members and the Co-op Manager, we have been making presentations to engineering students on professional licensure and about PEG at several times during their stay at MUN. Similarly, with the co-operation of the Earth Science Department we have made presentations to senior geoscience students. PEG continues to provide financial support to university student projects and activities and of course we provide annual scholarships and work term report prizes.

For the first time, PEG hosted a graduation luncheon for the MUN engineering class of 2004. In order to celebrate the graduation of more than 150 engineers from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and to recognize the entry of a new group into engineering, PEG and the Eastern Chapter co-organized and funded a lunch at the Bella Vista Club in St. John’s.

On April 1, 2004, the Earth Science Department and the Alexander Murray Club held an “Earth Ring” ceremony for the 2004 Bachelors of Science (Honours) Earth Science graduates. As in past years, PEG provided the food and refreshments for the social which followed the event.

You will note from the Registrar’s report that the Board of Examiners has modified its Internship Guideline and now makes provision for graduates who enroll and remain as MITs to be able to become licensed after three years of work experience, instead of the current requirement of four years. This will serve to add value to the internship program and will likely attract graduates to PEG at an earlier stage.

PEG will continue to interact with MUN students to ensure that they are aware of our professions.

New PEG Website Launched 

The highlight of the PEG communication activities in 2003-2004 was the launch of a new website. Besides a more professional look and being more user-friendly, the site is also more functional than the old one. For example, prospective members can now submit applications on-line, fees can be paid through the site and members can inform PEG of changes in their contact information on the site. Visit www.pegnl.ca and see more!

Financial Position 

Two financial schedules are included in this Annual Report for the information of members.

PEG is in a sound financial position. The Summary of Revenue and Expenses for the 2003-2004 fiscal year reports that PEG experienced an annual deficit of $21,118. There was a modest increase in revenues above the budgeted amount and, at the same time, operating expenditures were some $39,700 less than budgeted. These expenditure reductions were achieved because of delays in initiation of some activities and through cost savings.

The Financial Impact Statement shows that PEG carried a surplus above the required operating and appropriated reserves of $150,628 into this fiscal year (2004-2005). The budget for 2004-2005, based on the revenue and expenditures approved by Council, will see a projected increase in expenditures and a minor reduction in revenue. A budgeted increase in expenses above 2003-2004 will result from inflationary increases as well as the cost of undertaking initiatives to fulfill Council policies. It is planned that we will have a deficit of $65,800 this year; however PEG will continue to have a surplus of funds in the amount of $72,222 to carry into 2005-2006.

© Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador