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Editor's Note: The following
two Council Briefs didn't make the last PEGG because of space
considerations. To see the earlier briefs published in our
January edition, visit www.apegga.org. Council meets again
on Thursday, Feb. 6, at the new APEGGA Calgary Conference
Centre, 2200 Scotia Centre, 700 2nd St. S.W.
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The
Hon. Clint Dunford visits Council.
Back left, APEGGA President Ron Tenove, P.Eng., and
right, APEGGA Executive
Director Neil Windsor, P.Eng.
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Alberta Minister of Human Resources and Employment Clint
Dunford, who is responsible for the EGGP Act, has endorsed
one of the Association's major tools of public protection.
Reference of compliance cases to the courts "clearly
falls within the jurisdiction granted to the Association,"
the Hon. Clint Dunford says in an Oct. 9 letter to Council's
public members.
The letter from Mr. Dunford says the Association also serves
the public interest by advising individuals and businesses
of non-compliance and, when that fails, by seeking court injunctions.
Compliance is one of APEGGA's self-regulatory roles. The Compliance
Department protects the public by investigating non-members
who break Alberta law by representing themselves as engineers,
geologists or geophysicists. Companies making similar claims
when they lack permits to practice and professional members
on their staffs are also subject to action.
Mr. Dunford met with public members Judy Williams, Hugh Planche
and Dr. Norman Wagner, then addressed the full Council, Nov.
28.
Advocacy Group Makes Final Report
What are APEGGA's advocacy roles and who looks after them?
Should the Association advocate in more or fewer areas, or
simply better communicate the advocacy it already conducts?
And what exactly qualifies as advocacy?
You don't have to tell members of APEGGA Advocacy Task Force
that those are tricky questions to answer. The job, said Coun.
Shawn Morrison, P.Eng., one of its members, was like "wrestling
a room full of feathers."
With Council support, advocacy can become more transparent
and proactive, a summary of the task force's work says. It
suggests "more focused communication" that emphasizes
the value of the three professional designations. APEGGA could
speak more on topical issues, and facilitate more dialogue
among members and stakeholders. "If both internal and
external audiences appreciate the value of what APEGGA does,
the Association will be seen to have relevance and value."
The task force was formed after a strategic planning session
in May 2001 and met seven times. Council received a set of
recommendations and stood down the task force.
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