May 2010

Geoscientists Canada Update

As President of CCPG - now operating under its new business name “Geoscientists Canada” - and now almost three-quarters into my term, it is a pleasure to bring you an update on our recent activities and achievements. 

In fact, the Executive Committee decided this January that update articles like this, addressed to the members of its Constituent Associations, should be issued at least twice per year; this is the first such article.

As many will know, geoscience is now a regulated profession in all jurisdictions across Canada, except PEI and Yukon, and individuals must become licensed with the appropriate Constituent Association in each province or territory in which they intend to practice. Put very simply, this is the law!!

Despite being a relatively young organization, with a small budget and staff, Geoscientists Canada has been actively responding to the needs of its Constituent Associations and has also been increasing the visibility of professionalism in geoscience, both across Canada and abroad.

Our new strategic plan 2010-2015 – the second such plan since our inception – was recently approved, with an implementation plan to be brought before the next Board of Directors meeting in Yellowknife, this June.

The following are some recent achievements and developments directed by Geoscientists Canada and supported by the Constituent Associations:

• The Geoscience Knowledge and Experience Requirements for Professional Registration in Canada was completed and is now published as a colour booklet, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between all 10 Constituent Associations concerning its use. 
   

• Geoscientists Canada continued to expand its international relations to raise awareness abroad of Canada’s robust style of governance of professional practice.  Geoscientists Canada is a regular observer at meetings of both the Association of State Boards of Geology and the American Institute of Professional Geologists in the U.S., as both ASBOG and AIPG are of our meetings. Last year, Geoscientists Canada attended the AGM of the European Federation of Geologists and we recently accepted an invitation to participate in a workshop, this April, in Brazil hosted by the Canada-Brazil Chamber of Commerce on securities reporting, the QP designation and regulation of mining-related professions in Canada.
   

• Geoscientists Canada is entering discussions with other countries, on behalf of its Constituent Associations, to seek recognition for Canadian professional geoscientists who need to become licensed in other countries and visa versa.
   

• Mobility and ease of transfer for geoscientists registered within Canada had been a significant issue. With the recent revisions to the Agreement on Internal Trade, things have changed and the Constituent Associations continue to further streamline transfers for those P.Geos. who pose no risk to the public.
   

• Geoscientists Canada is in the design phase of an initiative to develop tools and material, for use by its Constituent Associations, for a National Licensure Compliance Awareness Program focused on those geoscientists practicing in different parts of Canada who have not yet applied to become registered professionals. This program, which is in the public interest and of national importance, will alert all un-registered practitioners of their legal obligation to become registered. 
   

• Geoscientists Canada is a founding sponsor and co-organizer of technical sessions at GeoCanada 2010 conference – Canada’s 10 yearly geoscience summit - which takes place in Calgary, May 10-14.
   

• Work on a collective national framework for the development of geoscience professional practice guidelines is well underway. This initiative is in direct response to requests from the Constituent Associations for Pan-Canadian collaboration on this challenging topic; and Geoscientists Canada was successful in securing federal government funding for the work. The project steering committee is made up of appointees from seven Constituent Associations - making it a truly national team. Their work has benefited in particular from APEGBC’s willingness to allow its policy document on development of new practice guidelines to be used as a key starting point for the new national framework.
   

• Finally, Geoscientists Canada recently began a major new project of collaboration with the Constituent Associations to collectively examine admissions processes and tools for the applications for licensure from Internationally Trained Geoscientists.  This “ITG” project, which will run for 24 months, is funded through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program. 

It is extremely important that we have such a vibrant, Canada-wide forum and point of focus that is Geoscientists Canada for a profession like geoscience which is so global in scope and so international in all of its practice and business sectors.

Our Constituent Associations provide Geoscientists Canada with strong support and invaluable input and guidance in focusing our strategic objectives. On their behalf and consistent with their mandates, we continue to place our strongest emphasis on “protection of the public interest.”

 Gary Vivian, P.Geo.

President

© Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador