Frequently Asked Questions

The following Frequently Asked Questions apply to the Professional Governance Act.

General

• 1. When does the Professional Governance Act (PGA) come into force?

  The PGA was anticipated to come into force in November, but the provincial election will slightly delay the planned implementation. The PGA will now come into force on February 5, 2021.

• 2. Is the Engineers and Geoscientists Act still valid?

  Currently, yes. However, when the Professional Governance Act comes into force, the Engineers and Geoscientists Act will be repealed, and we will be governed exclusively under the PGA.

• 3. Are we still self-regulated?

  Yes. Engineers and Geoscientists BC and the professions of engineering and geoscience are still fully self-regulating. We still have a council election each year, where the majority of councillors are elected by registrants. Additionally, registrant volunteers sit on our statutory committees and advisory groups that work to deliver on our mandate.

• 4. What’s changing under the Professional Governance Act?

  The PGA sets consistent standards for ethical principles, duties and responsibilities, and governance structures for the regulatory bodies under its purview, including Engineers and Geoscientists BC and the regulators for forestry, agrology, biology, and applied science.
  
  The legislation also introduces new regulatory tools, processes, and requirements for Engineers and Geoscientists BC and its registrants.
  
  Registrants will have new obligations they need to be aware of, and new requirements they will need to follow.

  • An updated Code of Ethics will be introduced, aligned with mandatory ethical principles contained in the PGA.
  • Engineering and geoscience firms will become regulated, bringing BC in line with the rest of Canada.
  • Continuing education will be mandatory, requiring registrants to complete 60 hours within a three-year rolling period.
  • Registrants will need to verify their area of practice annually, and keep their contact information up-to-date.
• 5. How can I learn more about the new regulatory requirements?

  We want to ensure registrants are kept updated and informed throughout our transition to the PGA. Watch for regular updates on egbc.ca/pga and articles in eNews and Innovation, as well as an upcoming webinar series, and a special information reference guide in the Nov/Dec edition of Innovation.
  
  Engineers and Geoscientists BC is currently developing a number of guides and resource tools to help registrants better understand their new requirements under the PGA. These will focus on the Code of Ethics, the Continuing Education Program, and Regulation of Firms. These documents are expected to be available in early 2021.
  
  For any questions related to the PGA, email [email protected].




Advocacy

• 1. Under the Professional Governance Act, will Engineers and Geoscientists BC be able to undertake advocacy activities?

  The Professional Governance Act will introduce restrictions on certain advocacy activities. The path to understand the implications of these restrictions has taken considerable time.
  
  Staff have worked hard on educating the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance (OSPG) on the unique challenges and needs of our organization. In particular, we have stressed with the OSPG the vital role that our volunteers play and the need to ensure that we maintain and continue to cultivate the spirit of volunteerism that is fundamental to our work.
  
  The OSPG has given us a framework to use in analyzing our programs and determining which ones are consistent with the PGA.
  
  Council has recently completed our review of programs using the framework. That review has confirmed that there will be a negligible impact from the PGA. Key programs like branches, the affinity program, and national engineering and geoscience month can continue.
   
  We still need to update the OSPG on our review and solicit their feedback before the process is final. We will keep registrants informed on this topic once the process reaches completion.