June 2007 Issue
Excerpted from Alberta
Hansard June 12, 2007 1710
Bill 39
Engineering, Geological and Geophysical
Professions Amendment Act, 2007
The Deputy Speaker: The Hon. Member for Lethbridge-
West.
Mr. Dunford: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to first say that I appreciate all of the discussion that we’ve had on this bill in second reading and also, of course, in committee.
I might note that we have a couple of guests in the gallery. I appreciate
that the minister may have wanted to introduce them. Neil Windsor from APEGGA
and Barry Cavanaugh from ASET are
here to be part of this historic event, and I thank them for coming. Just to
recap very quickly, Mr. Speaker, Bill 39 will reflect a new governance model:
one act, two associations to regulate professional engineer, geoscientist, and
engineering technologist practice. This model was agreed upon by both of the
associations, and of course the proposed changes will continue to ensure the
highest standards of public safety are met both by APEGGA and ASET.
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to move third reading of Bill 39, the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Amendment Act, 2007.
The Deputy Speaker: The Hon. Member for Edmonton- Glenora.
Dr. B. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to respond and thank the hon. member for introducing this bill. This has been waited upon by many, and a lot of work has gone on in the past and in coming up with a memorandum of agreement, and both associations, ASET and APEGGA, have worked together to make this possible.
I don’t have anything further to add from my comments during second reading. This model of one act, two associations will indeed better protect the public interest by assuring the competence of engineering and technology professionals across the spectrum of their practices. I would like to wish them all the best in the future as they continue to work together.
This is all about professionalism. As I mentioned in second
reading, it’s all about moving forward, and I commend them for the focus,
especially on the ethics of the professions. It’s really important to have
an ethics code, and it’s a question of providing the discipline, the processes
of accountability for the members of the profession, so they can raise their
heads high. This is a good day in the life of Alberta and especially for engineers
and technologists. I would support third reading of this bill. Thank you, Mr.
Speaker.
[ Motion carried; Bill 39 read a third time]