January 2012

Report of Chair and CEO/Registrar

Dr. Ray Gosine, FEC, P. Eng. (Photo by C. Hammond)

Geoff Emberley, FEC, P. Eng. (Photo by Paul Daly)

The PEGNL Board and staff wish all the best for you and yours for 2012!

PEGNL Fees and Professional Development Reports

As we are into January, most members have submitted their annual fees and a Professional Development report. PEGNL staff is currently processing these records and will be following up with those who have not submitted. PEGNL will soon commence the process of removing those from the register who have not paid annual fees or submitted professional development report. From the perspective of the Engineers and Geoscientist Act, those who have not done so by year end are no longer licensed both to practice in Newfoundland & Labrador, and to use the associated titles.

Membership Increases

PEGNL’s membership growth rate continues to increase. Total membership in 2011 has increased by more than 13% above 2010 levels. The increase from 2009 to 2010 was 8.64%, significantly above the more traditional growth rate of 3% to 5%.

Call for Nominations to the 2012-2013 PEGNL Board of Directors

This year PEGNL is asking for nominations to the 2012-2013 PEGNL Board of Directors for three elected director positions. If you are interested in serving on the Board or in nominating someone please read further through this link. As a Board member you would have a chance to learn about how PEGNL works at the Board level, and to make a significant contribution.

New PEGNL Staff Position

PEGNL has established a new staff position, Compliance Officer to work with PEGNL’s Professional Standards Director Leo White, P. Eng.  The primary role of the position is to assist in ensuring that those who practice and use the associated titles and licensed to do so. PEGNL is required under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act to ensure that such compliance exists, and with the increased engineering and geoscience activity within the province, there is significantly more work required in the area of compliance. It is PEGNL's plan to fill this position shortly.

PEGNL Hebron Submission

The Hebron Public Review Commission was established by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) to complete an independent assessment of the Hebron Project Development Application. The Commissioner, Miller Ayre, chaired public forums during November and December to solicit public input to his deliberations. As part of the process, PEGNL made a written submission to the commission. Further, CEO & Registrar Geoff Emberley, P. Eng. and Professional Standards Director Leo White, P. Eng attended the public hearings, delivering a synopsis of the written submission and answering questions from Mr. Ayre. A summary and the body of the written submission can be accessed through this link.

Construction Engineering

With all the major projects in the province, both on the island and in Labrador, there is a considerable increase in the amount of construction occurring. The article accessed through this link reviews the roles of engineers in construction.

Why Women? – The Business Case    Part Two of Three

Carolyn Emerson reviews the status of women in science and engineering both in Canada and in Newfoundland & Labrador. Her first article entitled Where are the Women appeared in the last issue of Dialogue. The article in the current issue is entitled, “Why Women? – The Business Case”.

Carolyn J. Emerson, M.Sc., has held leadership positions in organizations with a particular emphasis on women’s full participation in SETT (Science Engineering Trades & Technology) careers. She is the co-author of two books on women in the SETT workforce and is the recipient of several awards for public service including Honourary Membership in Professional Engineers and Geoscientists NL.

Letter from Newfoundland & Labrador Construction Association

The attached letter from the Newfoundland &Labrador Construction Association expresses concerns about tendering practices. Many PEGNL members both formulate and administer these practices, or respond to tender requests. Efficient and fair tendering practices are important for the design and construction processes in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador. The letter can be viewed through this link.

Structural Engineering Guidelines

PEGNL’s Structural Engineering Committee has produced revised draft Structural Engineering Guidelines. This article reviews PEGNL’s recent activity with respect to these guidelines and provides an opportunity for those who are interested in structural engineering matters to comment before the draft guidelines go to the PEGNL Board of Directors for approval. The draft Guidelines may be accessed through this link.

Limited License to Practice Engineering and Geoscience

In the September Dialogue article there there was a detailed description of the nature of the new categories of licensure with PEGNL, ‘professional member in the practice of engineering - limited licensee’; and ‘professional member in the practice of geoscience - limited licensee’ with the associated professional designations "Eng. L." or "Geo. L." PEGNL is making progress with the implementation of the new categories of licensure with the plan of accepting applications for these new categories in the spring of 2012. Read more about the framework that PEGNL is proposing for these new categories of licensure through this link. 

Scholarships and Bursaries

As part of its support of students through scholarships and bursaries, PEGNL has launched a new bursary program focused on helping students in financial need. In December, with the assistance of MUN Engineering and MUN Earth Science, PEGNL has awarded bursaries in the amount of $2,000 to four MUN engineering students and two MUN Geoscience students. As part of the selection process, students were asked to make an application, and to include in the application a description of what impact such financial help would make.    

PEGNL continues to administer its scholarship program. In January PEGNL will be awarding a $5,000 scholarship and two $2,500 scholarships to MUN students based on applications that were received in the Fall of 2011.

These bursaries were funded by PEGNL’s Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund was established and continues to be funded by PEGNL member contributions. The proceeds generated from the fund’s investments provide for these bursaries and some of PEGNL’s scholarships. PEGNL’s Endowment Fund is managed by the Endowment Fund Committee composed of PEGNL members. For a list of the recent PEGNL student scholarships recipients and bursaries that please follow this link.

Call for Nominations re PEGNL 2012 Awards

Each year we recognize the contributions of a number of members. Please take a moment to review the PEGNL awards through this link and consider nominating a member.

Members in the News

See news about some of our members in the following Dialogue article.

Condominium Act, 2009

It is not unusual in legislation to see the requirement for a professional person to sign a document certifying something. One very common one was that a professional person could certify an application for a passport. In some cases these persons are denoted a qualified persons or QP’s. One common use of QP’s is in certifications required as part of stock market filings.

A piece of legislation recently updated was the Condominium Act, 2009 and the associated Regulations. Of particular note is section 3 of the Condominium Regulations, 2011 that permits an engineer registered to practice engineering under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, 2008 to prepare a reserve-fund study for a condominium corporation in Newfoundland and Labrador. [ The Condominium Act, 2009 ] [ The Condominium Regulations, 2011 ]

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