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Editor's Note: Following is a report
on the most recent APEGGA Council meeting, held April 25 in
the D.A. Lindberg Conference Centre at the Association's Edmonton
offices. This was the final meeting of the 2001-2002 Council.
Five meetings per year are held, in Edmonton, Calgary and
one of the branch communities. The next meeting, the first
under newly elected President Ron Tenove, P.Eng., will be
held Thursday, June 13, at the Westin Hotel in Calgary
CSEG Develops Agreement
For Seismic Data Licensing
The Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists has developed
a master licensing agreement for the use of seismic data.
CSEG representatives appeared before Council Feb. 7, explaining
the master licensing agreement and seeking monetary support.
APEGGA Council decided to support the Canadian Society of
Exploration Geophysicists with $15,000 to recognize the work
it's done developing this material.
CCPE Revenue Drops
The Canadian Council of Professional Engineers faces a major
loss of revenue because federal regulations will no longer
call on the CCPE to conduct initial assessments of potential
engineering immigrants. In the past, CCPE assessed whether
engineers applying for immigration have the qualifications
for licensure. The actual approval of licensure does not rest
with CCPE. It is the responsibility of boards of examiners
of the provincial associations.
Although the regulations under new immigration legislation
won't officially take effect until June, the word is already
out among engineers planning to immigrate. The number of assessments
has dropped dramatically, Council heard.
The CCPE shortfall amounts to $1.9 million in 2002 and $3.2
million in 2003. The reduction in revenue has already resulted
in budget revisions, and the CCPE's strategic plan cannot
be fulfilled without new money, said CCPE director Fred Otto,
P.Eng., PhD, and CCPE executive member Noel Cleland, P.Eng.
APEGGA and other constituent associations may be asked to
increase the per-member levy they pay to CCPE to cover at
least some of the shortfall.
The Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists faces a
smaller - but equally significant -- shortfall because of
the loss of its initial assessments. The $18,000 loss comes
out of a $90,000 budget, said director Bob Comer, P.Geoph.
Mentoring Program Scaled Back
A formal mentoring program piloted in Calgary isn't generating
the kind of industry support and user demand necessary to
justify a major, formal commitment from APEGGA, Council has
decided. Mentoring will remain an APEGGA program, however.
From now on, it will include the existing mentoring guideline;
new, "substantially developed" training seminars;
a new system of Web-based support; and possibly other initiatives
if there's a need.
Since September, the program has attracted eight companies,
with about 145 mentees prepared to participate. "Response
from the approximately 55 mentees (plus associated mentors)
who have gone through the training and feedback sessions has
been very positive. However, there is insufficient demand
and the cost to promote and service the program, as it was
originally designed, is unsustainable," said Len Shrimpton,
P.Eng., director of professional development, in his report
to Council.
APEGGA will discontinue promoting the Association-industry
partnership portion of the mentoring program, but will fulfill
its obligation to the eight companies.
New Practice Standards Accepted
Council accepted two new practice standards for publication
- one designed to ensure the quality inspection of geophysical
data, the other to clarify the when, what and how of stamping,
signing and dating documents. Drafts of both were publicized
on the Web and in The PEGG, and members' comments have been
considered in the creation of the final drafts.
The
Practice Standard for Quality of Inspection of Geophysical
Data arose from information gathered in the proactive
program of random professional practice reviews conducted
by the Practice Review Board. The reviews found that APEGGA
needs to publish the standard it expects when members make
quality inspections of other companies' geophysical data.
The
Practice Standard for Authenticating Professional Documents
is a new version of the guideline last revised in 1996. It
recognizes that the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical
Professions Act no longer requires a permit stamp. And a section
on authenticating electronic documents has been updated to
reflect current principles.
Both standards are now up on the APEGGA website, www.apegga.org,
and printed versions will be available shortly.
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