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Editor’s Note: The following statistics track this
year’s APEGGA Compliance Department activity from Jan.
1 to Jan. 31. The department’s job is to enforce the
right-to-practice and right- to- title provisions of the
EGGP Act Part 1. The Compliance Department’s focus,
therefore, is on individuals and companies that aren’t
members – those that may be, inadvertently or otherwise,
holding themselves out as members or practicing the professions
illegally.
| Active files as of January 1, 2004 |
|
405 |
| Files opened during period |
|
11 |
| Files Resolved for Individuals |
|
28 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Ceased using restricted title |
3 |
|
| Personal registration |
15 |
|
| Verified not practicing |
4 |
|
| Files Resolved for Companies |
|
32 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Permits issued or reinstated |
20 |
|
| Ceased using restricted title/violating |
2 |
|
| Verified not practicing |
6 |
|
| Active Files at January 31, 2004 |
|
356 |
*Note: Compliance files not mentioned above were resolved
for various other reasons such as confirmation that an individual
or company is already registered with APEGGA, verification
that an individual contacted is not living or working in
Alberta, clarification that a company is actually a trade
name of a member etc.
Examples
The following is a sampling of recent compliance and enforcement
activities.
• An individual who was using the P.Eng. designation
and the title “Senior Development Engineer” on
a business card, was brought to the Compliance Department’s
attention by a member of the public. After Compliance staff
discussed the matter considerably with the individual, the
individual applied for professional registration and is now
registered with APEGGA.
• Five companies, all of which employ professional
engineers but did not hold permits to practice, were contacted
by the Compliance Department to verify their activities.
As a result, it was determined that their activities do constitute
the practice of engineering as defined in the EGGP Act, Section
1 (q). After the requirement for a permit to practice was
explained, all five companies submitted applications and
are now registered with APEGGA.
• A compliance file was initiated on a company with “engineering” in
its name and employing one professional engineer. Because
the company employed a professional engineer it was assumed
that it was involved in engineering and a permit to practice
would be required. Through discussions with the owner, the
Compliance Department verified that the company was not practicing
engineering. The matter was resolved once the name was changed
to remove the word “engineering.”
• An unregistered company with “engineering” in
its name was brought to the Compliance Department’s
attention by a member of the public. Upon following up on
the complaint, the Compliance Department verified that the
company is actually the trade name of an APEGGA member, and
a permit to practice is not required.
• A company offering Phase 1, 2 and 3 environmental
site assessments was contacted by the Compliance Department.
After considerable discussions with management at the company,
it obtained a permit to practice.
• A company employing several professional engineers,
geologists and geophysicists came to the Compliance Department’s
attention. Contact was made and it was verified that the
company does hold a permit to practice, but under its previous
name. The matter was resolved by updating the name on the
permit.
• An advertisement for a “manufacturing engineer” was
placed in a Calgary newspaper by a company that did not hold
a permit to practice. Upon being notified of the permit requirement,
the company submitted an application.
• Two oil and gas companies employing professional
engineers, geologists and geophysicists were contacted by
the Compliance Department. Both companies registered with
APEGGA after the permit requirement was brought their attention.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Q. What are the fees involved in obtaining a Permit to Practice?
A. The initial cost is $335, which includes the application
fee and the first year’s dues. Thereafter, annual dues
will be invoiced, at $335, annually on each anniversary of
the month of issue.
In 2003 a change was made to the permit to practice fees
to assist smaller companies with the cost. As of January
2003, a permit holder may apply for a 50-per-cent dues reduction
in annual dues if:
a) The permit holder has only one professional engineer,
professional geologist, professional geophysicist or registered
professional technologist as a full-time employee or member
of the firm, and
b) The gross revenues of the firm did not exceed $250,000
in the preceding 12 months.
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