Across Canada

News briefs from associations in other provinces and territories.

Quebec Wants Tougher Act

Legislation to amend the Engineers Act was being considered by the Quebec National Assembly this fall. According to Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) President Roger Nicolet, ing., the draft bill "seeks to establish more accurate definitions of the engineer’s field of practice and the exclusive acts of engineers to minimize false or misleading interpretations". He adds: "OIQ wants an Act with more teeth, one that gives us better tools to fight the unlawful practice of engineering."

On another front, OIQ reports that in connection with "professional inspections" it has reduced the number conducted in the past year to 1,800, versus 2,200 the year before. According to Jean-Paul Beaulieu, ing, OIQ vice-president, professional affairs, the change reflects a shift in orientation emphasizing quality rather than quantity.

Manitoba Adopts Carver Model For Governace

Council of the Manitoba Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of Manitoba has approved a motion to implement the Carver model of governance. APEGGA has operated for several years under the Carver model, which seeks to more clearly delineate the respective roles of Council and the administration.

Committee Looks At Mining Practices

Update, the newsletter of the Association of Geoscientists of Ontario, reports formation of a new committee to examine mining exploration best practices and reporting guidelines. The Toronto Stock Exchange, along with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, and the Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists are represented on the committee formed Aug. 19. Such a guideline was recommended by the Mining Standard Task Force which reported earlier this year. The task force was formed to address technical and reporting standards for the mining industry with a view toward increasing investor confidence.

PEO to License Software Practitioners

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) has announced in a news release that it will license, as professional engineers, software practitioners who meet specific criteria. Individuals whose work experience is mainly in the area of software design and development, but whose academic background is in something other than an accredited computer engineering or other information technology-related engineering program, will be eligible for licensure, provided they meet other licensing requirements.

PEO’s requirements for a P.Eng. licence for software practitioners include:

• graduation from an engineering program approved by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board, or equivalent education;
  
  
• four years suitable employment experience—applicants without an appropriate degree may demonstrate more extensive work experience in place of education, or may be required to write examinations;
  
  
• knowledge of Control Theory, Mathematical Foundations, Digital Systems and Computer Architecture, Software Design and Programming Fundamentals;
  
  
• knowledge of three of Communications, Optimization, Data Management, Real Time and Control Systems, Performance Analysis, Parallel/Distributed Systems and Human Interfaces and Ergonomics; and
  
  
• successful completion of the Professional Practice Examination on engineering law and ethics.

PEO is now identifying those aspects of software design for which professional engineers should take responsibility—expected to include software integral to engineered products, processes and systems, and software tools used to design such products, processes and systems—which would effectively define the practice of professional engineering in this area.