Regulation of Firms

May 2024 Update

To better safeguard the public and the environment, retain public trust, and reduce risks to engineering and geoscience professionals, APEGS is considering a new approach to regulate firms that practice engineering and geoscience in Saskatchewan. The approach emphasizes preventative regulation that is characterized by guidance, learning, cooperation, and compassion to mitigate human fallibility. This work is being done as part of a review of The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act and bylaws. Therefore, the Government of Saskatchewan is responsible for approving changes. The current plan is to provide the proposed changes to government during the call for legislation in early 2025.

What is the new approach?

In alignment with other regulators, while ensuring a fit with the needs of APEGS registrants, APEGS will require firms to develop, document, and follow policies and procedures in the three areas below as part of a professional practice management plan. APEGS will provide support through training, guidance documents, and templates.

  • Ethics: Policies and procedures must meet the intent of APEGS’ code of ethics from a firm’s perspective.
  • Quality Management: Policies and procedures must reduce risks and enhance professional practices concerning documentation, reviews, checking, and authentication.
  • Continuing Professional Development: Policies and procedures must support registrants in meeting continuing professional development requirements, with individual compliance remaining the registrant’s responsibility.

APEGS will be conducing audits and practice reviews to foster continuous improvement and ensure public protection. The audits are based on risk assessment with outcomes ranging from no findings to minor or major non-conformances, necessitating corrective action plans to address identified gaps. Firms are required to comply with audits and maintain up-to-date information.

When will this change occur?

Various factors influence when and how the new approach is implemented, including feedback from interested parties, council approvals, IT system capabilities, and legislative changes. APEGS is aiming for voluntary implementation in 2025 with mandatory implementation in 2026 to allow for feedback and adjustments.

Why regulate firms this way?

This new approach ensures a minimum level of practice through quality management and holds firms responsible for their decisions, aligning the obligations of firms with those of individual registrants. The approach is a more transparent way to regulate, with APEGS setting clear expectations and providing relevant information to interest holders. It also allows firms to be better equipped to mitigate risks, by addressing common complaints related to breaches of ethics, professional misconduct, and quality issues.

Questions?

APEGS invites ongoing dialogue and engagement. For inquiries or comments, email corporate practice@apegs.ca, with “Regulation of Firms” in the title.

January 2024

APEGS has been working on a program to improve the regulation of firms further to recommendations from the corporate registrant task group approved March 2023. To establish the program, APEGS is undertaking the following work:

  • Developing a comprehensive framework that includes professional standards and guides for individuals and firms. The framework will be established based on a three-pillar regulatory model of ethics, quality management and continuing professional development.
  • Making changes to The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act and bylaws to improve the ability for APEGS to regulate firms.
  • Developing a practice review program regarding the practices of firms and individuals to ensure that they comply with the changes to the act and bylaws.

APEGS is striving to complete this program by January 2026. However, there are many factors that affect the schedule for this work, including other changes to the act and bylaws, so it is important for members to stay informed. Further details will be provided to members throughout 2024 and 2025 in The Edge Monthly e-newsletter (delivered to your inbox on the 15th day of each month or next business day), webinars, and PD days.

March 2023

APEGS is developing a new program to license and regulate entities practicing engineering and geoscience in Saskatchewan based on APEGA’s and EGBC’s permit to practice. The program will require entities to have policies and procedures about:

  • Practice areas or scope of engineering and/or geoscience in which the firm operates.
  • Code of conduct and ethical practice, including how they align and reinforce behaviours in keeping with APEGS’ code of ethics.
  • Continuing education and professional development, including how they align with APEGS’ continuing professional development program and help employees remain competent in their roles and practice areas.
  • Quality management in areas including but not limited to retaining project documentation, checking work, authenticating documents, direct supervision, and project execution.

APEGS’ council approved this direction further to the Corporate Registrant Task Group providing it recommendations on March 2. The task group was sunset on the same day, since their terms were completed upon providing recommendations to the council.

To create, implement, and deliver this new program requires the appropriate policies, systems, and human resources as well as changes to either APEGS’ bylaws and/or the The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act. Therefore, APEGS expects to implement the program in three years.

It is important that APEGS has the ability to regulate entities as part of its mandate to protect the public, since many professional decisions that were once made by individuals are increasingly determined by the policies and procedures of the entities that employ those individuals.