APEGS VIEW : GOVERNANCE CHANGE

Council met on December 4, 2020 and considered action on 15 more of the 33 recommendations on governance change, including recommendations on council size and composition, risk management and organizational structure. A summary of Council’s December decisions is provided below.

Staff is continuing to prepare the remaining feasibility plans and further proposals to consider recommendations at the February council meeting. Plans for stakeholder consultation are also underway.
If you have any questions, contact the project director Tina Maki, P.Eng., Director of Special Projects at tmaki@apegs.ca who will relay them to the steering group.

Summary of Council Decisions and Next Steps

Area	Decisions	Notes
Council Size and Composition	Adjust council size from 19 to 13 members through a process of attrition over the next three years. Replace process of electing councillors based on discipline, geography or member-in- training status with “the process of voting at large for candidates using criteria to ensure council is made up of individuals with the knowledge, competency, character and diversity to regulate in the public interest. Assign the Nominating Committee responsibility for attracting and vetting candidates using the criteria developed by the Nominating Criteria Task Group.	Changes will comply with The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, which requires a minimum of four professional engineers, two professional geoscientists and two public appointees. Bylaw changes are required. Drafts are going to council in February 2021 and if approved, online town hall consultations with members will be conducted in March 2021.
Risk Management	Introduce annual self-evaluations for council, boards, and volunteer committees.	The Nominating Criteria Task Group and staff is now preparing evaluation tools and procedures for consultation with volunteers and council’s consideration.
Organizational Structure	Change the name of the Governance Board to the Regulatory Board, to better reflect its purpose. Transfer the responsibilities of The Professional Edge, Communications and Public Relations and Connection and Involvement committees to staff and sunset the committees. Examine and clarify the purpose and objectives of the following committees within the context of the regulatory role and responsibilities of APEGS and how best to achieve those objectives: • Equity and Diversity • Environment and Sustainability • Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) • Student Development • Examine merging the Education Board and Image and Identity Board into a single Professionalism Board, with a clear purpose and objectives.	Planning, research, and consultation with impacted stakeholders will occur in 2021. New volunteer options will be offered to volunteers of the three sunset committees.

Below are answers to questions you may have about the project.

What is the governance change project about?

APEGS is reviewing its governance and regulatory frameworks and practices. The review focuses on 33 recommendations made by an independent consultant regarding Council size and composition, risk management, public transparency, management of sponsorships, organizational structure, roles of committees and staff, training for committees and APEGS’ relationship with constituent societies.

Why is the governance structure under review?
APEGS last updated its governance structure more than 30 years ago. Since then, there have been changes to the regulatory environment of self-regulating professions across Canada. In addition, APEGS has transformed – it regulates more members of the professions, now regulates two professions, uses different technologies and communication tools and has more staff. It is time to update the governance structure to ensure it aligns with APEGS’ needs.

What needs to change and why?
The governance review did not find any significant gaps that posed immediate concerns to public safety, but it did identify opportunities for APEGS to achieve greater clarity regarding the purpose of the activities it undertakes and to ensure that its governance practices and structure are more reflective of APEGS’ regulatory nature and purpose.

Some of the recommendations, if approved and implemented, will result in a shift in the activities and services that occur in the current state. Others are more internally focused and, if approved and implemented, will result in process improvements and realignment of resources to strengthen APEGS’ focus on regulating the professions objectively.

What if the proposed changes do not take place?
Lack of action on the governance review recommendations has the potential to decrease public and government confidence in APEGS. By carefully considering all recommendations arising from the governance review, APEGS demonstrates its commitment to modernizing its governance practices and keeping pace with the current regulatory environment.

What are the benefits to those licensed to practice engineering or geoscience in Saskatchewan?
The engineering and geoscience professions have worked diligently to be granted and maintain self-regulatory powers from the provincial government. With self-regulatory powers, the professions – through APEGS – are afforded more flexibility in determining how they hold themselves accountable to the public for safe, sound and prudent practices.

What is the effect on or impact to those licensed to practise engineering or geoscience in Saskatchewan, including any changes to fees?
There are no fee changes expected due to the governance change project. Most recommendations will not have a direct effect on or impact to APEGS members. Some recommendations under consideration by Council will require membership approval to make bylaw changes. Proposed bylaw changes will be presented at the APEGS annual meeting.

Will the changes reduce opportunities for volunteers?
While there are some recommendations to sunset committees, the changes are not intended to reduce volunteer opportunities. The impact on the overall number of volunteers has yet to be determined. Volunteers will continue to be valued and relied upon to help carry out APEGS roles and responsibilities, especially in regulatory areas. As APEGS makes governance enhancements to keep pace with evolving regulatory practices and governance best practices, there will continue to be other opportunities for members who want to volunteer.

What is the anticipated impact on staff if changes are approved?
In some cases, staff will be able to function more efficiently because of the changes. In other cases, the amount of staff time required to do the work will be determined after the relevant recommendations are examined.

How does APEGS’ governance review compare to what other associations are doing?
APEGS is not unique. Several engineering, geoscience and other regulators have recently completed reviews, are planning reviews, or have had changes imposed on them. For example, British Columbia now has The Professional Governance Act, which is a government regulator of five professional regulators in B.C., including Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. Professional Engineers Ontario has undertaken an independent regulatory review which included governance topics and has taken relevant action in response. Two other engineering and geoscience regulators in Canada have recently initiated the process for a similar review.