Council Briefs

The following matters were on the agenda or were discussed at the Sept. 18 APEGGA Council Meeting in Red Deer.

Permit to Practice Changes Proposed
Council has approved a draft implementation plan revising the regulation of corporations and similar entities. The recommendations have been passed on to APEGGA's Act, Regulations and Bylaws Committee to prepare proposed bylaw amendments for consideration at APEGGA's 1998 Annual General Meeting.

The draft implementation plan also will be reviewed by the Consulting Engineers of Alberta, APEGGA's Enforcement Review Committee and the CSEG/CSPG/APEGGA Liaison Committee.

Provisions of the draft implementation plan include:

• exemption from corporate registration of corporations where "there is no 'holding out' of the corporate entity as being engaged in the practice of engineering, geology or geophysics through means such as directory advertising, brochures or any other printed or electronic means." (The exemption is partly aimed at corporate entities established by professionals who have set up a company but who work on a contract basis for one employer. It might also apply where the corporation mainly serves as a billing vehicle for a practitioner.)
• registration would be required but exemption from annual dues would apply for those corporations which hold themselves out through directory advertising, brochures and other printed or electronic means as entitled to engage in the practice of geology, geophysics or engineering, but which also meet the following criteria:
• the registered professional member holds no less than 50 per cent of the voting shares of the corporation;
• no other professional member holds status as a shareholder, director, officer or employee of the exempt corporation.

However, corporations engaged in the practice of engineering, geology or geophysics where services performed by employees are solely for internal consumption will be required to maintain a Permit to Practice. APEGGA would have to be informed of any changes in the responsible professional members.

Also requiring a Permit to Practice would be those consultant corporations, partnerships and associations of persons engaged in the practice of engineering geology or geophysics and providing professional services to clients for a fee.

It is estimated that 60 per cent of current APEGGA Permit holders are one-person corporations that will be affected by the revised policies.

Code of Ethics
Council was informed that a subcommittee of the Practice Standards Committee is continuing its work on reviewing APEGGA's present Code of Ethics in order to present revisions to the 1998 AGM. APEGGA Director, Professional Practice, Ray Chopiuk, P.Eng., is co-ordinating these efforts.

John Crosbie Speaking At Fund Raiser
APEGGA is lending its assistance to a kick-off fund-raising dinner, to be held in Edmonton Nov. 11, in support of the APEGGA Education Foundation. The event will take place at the Hotel Macdonald and feature former federal cabinet minister John Crosbie, who has recently authored a book entitled No Holds Barred. (See also notice Page 9)

Co-operation With Technical Societies
Council approved plans for redoubled efforts by APEGGA to work with technical societies to co-ordinate and promote professional development and other areas of mutual interest.

CCPE Restructuring
CCPE Alberta Director Fred Otto, P.Eng., PhD, reported on a Sept. 13-14 Montreal meeting of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE) Board of Directors and plans to revise the CCPE governance model and the letters patent. The suggested model calls for a Meeting of Members at the AGM, with a representative from each constituent association having one vote. The 18 members of the CCPE Board of Directors would be answerable to this constituent assembly. (In the past, the CCPE Board has not been answerable to such a body). However, the current principle of weighted voting would be used for the appoinment of directors to the Board of CCPE by constituent associations/ordre (three for Ontario and Quebec; two each for Alberta and B.C., and one for the other provinces and territories). Each of the 18 members of the Board would have one vote. A five-member Executive Committee (with a composition aimed at reflecting the regional diversity) would be elected by the board to provide direction between board meetings.

Dr. Otto also reported that the CCPE Board has approved the terms of reference of a new International Affairs Committee which will oversee negotiation of reciprocity agreements with other countries.

He further noted that the creation of the new northern territory of Nunavut is expected to result, effective April 1999, in a new professional association within the new jurisdiction. Some 30 professionals would be eligible for registration in the new territory.

Workplace Issues
The Practice Standards Committee Subcommittee on Workplace Issues has submitted its final report to Council in which it outlines a proposed implementation plan on human rights. Proposals in the plan include: a review the Code of Ethics to ensure that it clearly and sufficiently captures APEGGA's policy on human rights; offering website links human rights to related sites; development of an internal APEGGA human rights policy that specifically deals with discrimination and harassment, and implement appropriate complaint procedures; incorporating human rights issues in the professional practice exam and associated ethics courses; and assigning an APEGGA staff member responsible for managing human rights issues proactively and responsibly.

Earlier work by the subcommittee led to the development of APEGGA's Guideline on Human Rights Issues in Professional Practice, a document published in March.

Committee Chairs Approved
Council has approved the following individuals to chair committees and boards in 1997-98: Gordon Stewart, P.Eng., Acts, Regulations & Bylaws Committee; Wenona Irving, P.Eng, AGM/Summit Awards® Committee; Barry Touchings, APEGGA/ASET Joint Appeal Board; Leigh Ellestad, P.Eng., APEGGA/ASET Joint Registration Board; Dave Irving, P.Eng., Appeal Board; Leon Mah, P.Eng.; Calgary Branch Meetings Committee; John Kramers, P.Geol., PhD,Communications Planning Committee; Alice Payne, P.Geol.,CSEG/CSPG/APEGGA Liaison Committee; Gerry DeSorcy, P.Eng.; Discipline Committee; Ted Lord, P.Eng., Edmonton District Committee; Paul Vickers, P.Eng.; Education Committee; Darcie Greggs, P.Geol., Enforcement Review Committee; Nina Novak, P.Eng.; Environment Committee; Harry Moore, P.Eng., Honours and Awards Committee; Dale Miller, P.Eng., Investigative Committee; John Rockliff, MAAA/ Mike Rosseker, P.Eng., Joint Board of Practice; Fred Otto, P.Eng., PhD, Nominating Committee; Archie Pick, P.Eng.; Practice Review Board; Ron Tenove, P.Eng., Practice Standards Committee; John Van der Put, P.Eng.; Professional Development Committee; Don Bellow, P.Eng., PhD, Staff Benefits Committee; Dave Robinson, P.Eng., University of Alberta Student Liaison Committee; and Steve Giacomin, P.Eng.; University of Calgary Student Liaison Committee.

Environmental Liaison
Council has authorized the Environment Committee to explore additional means for the Association to improve communication with environmental regulatory bodies and agencies, and so enhance their awareness of APEGGA's legal and ethical requirements.

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