OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2020 - 5

CEO'S MESSAGE

Renewal at the Professional Engineers Ontario has always
been a priority at OSPE. This has escalated recently
due to the number of recommendations outlined in the
regulatory review released last year.
The report highlighted many ongoing
issues at PEO, namely those surrounding
professional development, bias in the
licensing process (namely barriers
towards women and those internationally
educated), and the chapter system.
OSPE serves engineers, so in an indirect
way, we serve the public. We must never lose
sight of this-the reputation of engineers
as one of the foundational professions of
society rests on this. Accountability in our
day to day activities, and our long-term,
strategic thinking, must always reflect this.
The first step to this process is recognizing
that a well-functioning regulatory body is
vital to achieve this goal. Without a serious,
well-run PEO, it becomes extremely
difficult to build trust with the public and
prove that we are working not only to
develop our profession, but to safeguard
lives.
Because of the nature of a regulatory
review-where the scope is simultaneously
wide and deep, involving many different
parts-there has been much misinformation
trickling out into public discourse. The
speculation heard ranges from criticism
of the chapter system, advocacy, to
questioning the foundation of regulation
practices. At OSPE we ask that our
members disregard any information heard
unless it is from an officially designated
channel, such as a blog post found on the
OSPE website, through an official social
media channel, via a press release, or any
other direct form of communication from
PEO. As this process can seem tumultuous,
it is important to protect against the spread
of misinformation.
The reason for pushing PEO to be better
is simple: we believe that it is integral to the

health and growth of the profession. For
supported input. Our goal is much like
example, the regulatory review revealed
yours: to grow the industry and create
a space in which engineers can thrive,
that there were several instances in which
the licensing examination was a confusing
personally and professionally.
process. At OSPE, we recognize that this
Throughout this process, we welcome
has a direct impact on our members, and
the keen insight our members are able to
it is especially troubling when we discover
provide us. We value your lived experience
this has a disproportionate effect on already
and professional expertise. Please continue
vulnerable groups-such as women in the
to email, call, and contribute to our online
discussions, whether on the blog or on our
workplace, or those attempting to have
international work and experience are
social media channels. Our priorities are
guided by our members, and together we
recognized.
Our labour force is the single most
can thrive.
vital resource we have,
and ensuring that they
Our labour force is the single most vital
are protected, and given
every chance to thrive,
resource we have, and ensuring that they
drives our day to day
are protected, and given every chance to
activities. Engineers are
thrive, drives our day to day activities.
found across all fields in
all professions; we effect
the economy, the environment, and have a
long-standing impact on our social fabric.
The public deserves a healthy engineering
labour force so that our education, skills,
and abilities are applied in full force. No
one should be held back from professional
opportunities that they have earned due to
a confusing licensing process and we do not
want to risk the vitality of our labour pool.
In this issue, we asked our partners at
BMS to spotlight the fallout from many
of the regulatory inadequacies that have
occurred in Ontario. This is part of the
reason why OSPE has a renewed focus
on requesting continuous professional
Sandro Perruzza
development, mandatory liability
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
insurance, and the specialization of key
Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
disciplines. OSPE, PEO, and the CEO, are
in constant dialogue, and we will continue
to provide up to date, fact based, evidence

Spring 2020 THE VOICE

5
OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2020

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