November 2009

Message from the President, Engineers Canada

Dan Motyka, FCAE, FEC, P. Eng.

Engineers Canada’s work is conducted in support of its constituent members' mandates and priorities in a transparent fashion, in benefit of our organizations and the country.

Since the annual general meeting in May, the Board of Directors has carried out a review of the progress on 2009 priorities, strategic objectives and goals for 2010, and the continued relevance and direction of the goals for a further year.

I would also like to recognize the excellent results of the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board with respect to the Washington Accord meeting in Kyoto, in June 2009. The Signatories of the Washington Accord unanimously decided that Engineers Canada’s accreditation system be accepted by the other signatories, for a period of six years – the maximum period allowed – as leading to outcomes substantially equivalent to the systems known to the monitoring team.

The Board has also taken a detailed look at the financial status of Engineers Canada and shared with the constituent members its findings, so that a discussion can be initiated in the coming months about the financial sustainability of its activities.

One aspect of our strategic objectives is to facilitate communication with respect to diversity and equity concerns, issues and initiatives. In regards to increasing female representation within the engineering profession, the September Women in Engineering Workshop resulted in mutually agreed-upon initiatives for further advancement and recommendations, including raising the profile and improving the image of the profession, and demonstrating the value of diversity in engineering education and in the workplace.

The Synergy Task Force has also looked in detail at the issues surrounding the relationship between Engineers Canada and its constituent members, in particular as it relates to its mandate. The Task Force provided its findings and conclusions for a discussion to be initiated with the constituent members at the October plenary and Board meeting.

The results of the discussions should allow the development of a draft strategic plan that will be submitted to the constituent members for comments and discussion before the end of the year so that a detailed review of the draft plan can be completed at the February plenary and Board meeting.

Moving forward, the Synergy Task Force will also look to establish a roadmap regarding the governance and financing model of Engineers Canada, through discussions with our constituent members, so that a renewed governance and financing model is hopefully adopted in May 2011.

I look forward to the discussions that will take place with our constituent members during the October Board meeting and plenary. Together, we will define the next steps to renew our strategic plan and address issues relating to the governance and resourcing of Engineers Canada activities, and we will strive for the profession to be even more valued and known for its contributions to the safety, well-being and quality of life of both individual Canadians and society as a whole.

© Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador