OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2020 - 12

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

Advocacy Update
March 1st is Professional Engineers Day
in Ontario

In 2018, the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
(OSPE) was thrilled to receive unanimous consent from all
political parties to make March 1st "P.Eng. Day" in Ontario.
This was a significant milestone, as engineers are now
formally recognized for their achievements and contributions
to the economic and social wellbeing of our province.
To commemorate this important date, OSPE reported on
several engineers across Ontario that represent the three
pillars - Lead, Care, and Unite - of our Strategic Plan,
Engineering the Future Together. In addition to this, OSPE
provided employers across the province with packages of
"swag" to celebrate their engineers by profiling them, hosting
a coffee and tea appreciation hour, and/or taking a photo
and sharing it on social media channels using the hashtag
#PEngDay. Lastly, to kick off National Engineering Month,
engineers working in all disciplines are formally honoured
by the Legislative Assembly on this day.
#PEngDay continues to raise the profile of the engineering
profession by raising awareness about the inspiring
contributions of Ontario's professional engineers.

UPCOMING ADVOCACY EVENTS
OSPE's 11th Annual Queen's Park Reception
and Lobby Day

This anticipated event brings together Members of
Provincial Parliament, Ontario's engineering community,
and key stakeholders to discuss the important contributions
engineers make to the economic growth of the province.
When: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 - 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Legislative Building, Committee Room 228/230
For more information please contact advocacy@ospe.on.ca
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

What issues would you like OSPE to focus on
and why? E-mail advocacy@ospe.on.ca to make
recommendations to your fellow members serving
on OSPE's advocacy task forces.

THE VOICE Spring 2020

OSPE's 2020 Pre-Budget Submission

These recommendations were developed by OSPE's Task Force
initiatives and expertise. Our task forces are comprised of
engineering community members who possess expertise and are
keen to improve policymaking decisions in energy, infrastructure,
environment, diversity and inclusion, research and innovation,
and the engineering labour market.
Sandro Perruzza, OSPE CEO, presented the following Pre-Budget
Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic
Affairs, highlighting the ways in which engineers create jobs and
growth in Ontario.
Make Life More Affordable
1. Implement new regulations where surplus emission
free electricity is priced separately from dependable
electricity.
The current retail electricity price plans contribute to the
growing amounts of surplus emission-free electricity that is
being discarded. Between 2016 and 2017, enough emissionfree electricity to power almost 2 million homes was discarded.
The Government of Ontario can implement electricity price
reform that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions at no net cost.
OSPE's Energy Task force developed a detailed report Retail
Electricity Price Reform: Path to Lower Energy Bills and EconomyWide CO2 Emission Reductions which provides a number of
recommendations on how to achieve emission reductions and
long-term savings for residential consumers.
Preserve and Protect the Environment
2. Modernize the Building Code.
Environment and Climate Change Canada revealed that in
2018, buildings were the second fastest growing source of GHG
emissions in Ontario. Retrofitting existing buildings to make them
energy-efficient and low-carbon will help combat climate change
and grow Ontario's economy. Greener buildings lead to affordable
utility bills, usually have a higher resale price, often offer higher
occupant comfort, and lead to the creation of jobs and overall
economic growth. By getting close to a net zero model building
code by 2030, Ontario can significantly reduce building energy
use and carbon emissions.
3. Develop a policy on plastic use, including a ban on
single use plastics.
2019 data from Environment and Climate Change Canada

OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2020