Professional Reliance Review



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What is this engagement about?

In fall 2018 the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy introduced in the House the Professional Governance Act (act) – proposed legislation that seeks to strengthen governance of professionals who work in B.C.’s natural resource sector and in other sectors.
Bill 49 – Professional Governance Act follows recommendations on professional governance provided in the independent final report (the report) on professional reliance submitted by Mark Haddock to government in June 2018. The review of the Province’s professional reliance model was conducted in fall/winter 2017-2018 with the goal to ensure the highest professional, technical and ethical standards are being applied to resource management in B.C.
 
The proposed act is intended to strengthen government oversight for five professional associations by establishing a statutory Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance (Office) in the Ministry of Attorney General. This Office will be responsible for administering the act and for ensuring that best practices for professional governance are implemented.
The five regulatory bodies and statutes included in the review and which define the current scope of the proposed changes to professional governance and oversight under the proposed act are:

  • Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of B.C. (ASTTBC) (Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Act)
  • Association of B.C. Forest Professionals (ABCFP) (Foresters Act)
  • B.C. Institute of Agrology (BCIA) (Agrologists Act)
  • College of Applied Biology (CAB) (College of Applied Biology Act)
  • Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, known as Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. (EGBC) (Engineers and Geoscientists Act).

 

How can my contribution make a difference?

Government is seeking feedback and comments over a 90 day period on the key policy areas for regulation development from: Indigenous peoples, interested parties (industry, regulatory bodies governed by the act, other professional associations, registered professionals, other stakeholders), and the public. The following process will be applied:

  • Indigenous, industry, stakeholder and public comment on Part Two of the intentions paper.
  • Discussions with regulatory bodies and other interested parties on key policy areas; and,
  • A report summarizing feedback on the intentions paper

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    Details of the Consultation:

    Date:    Phase 1: December 1, 2017 to January 19, 2018
                  Phase 2: October 30, 2018 to March 4, 2019

    Status: Open

    Location: Province-wide

    Category: Environmental Protection

    Type: Online

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