Canadian Engineering Culture

In Canada control of professional education was assigned to the provincial jurisdiction under the British North American Treaty. Like its American counterpart, the self-regulating Canadian Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE) did not endorse the external regulation of engineers. CSCE was however blocked from the regulatory function by its dominion-chartered status. By transforming itself into the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), it was able to encourage engineers in the provinces to set up self-regulating groups. Between 1920 and 1922, seven of the nine provinces in Canada established engineering associations13 that were incorporated under the Professional Engineers Act in 1922. This act allowed them to register engineers but stopped short of allowing them to license members. In 1937, the self-regulating associations successfully fought to amend the 1922 Professional Engineers Act. Under the amended Professional Engineers Act, licensing of their members by the associations became mandatory.13 Engineering associations thus wrested the function of regulating engineering from the Provincial Governments opening the door for them to control who could practice engineering in Canada. This hybrid self-governance model empowered engineering associations to protect self-interests of their members through licensing. A consistent theme in the quest of Canada‟s engineers to define their role therefore has been self-regulation and control over who can practice engineering in the provinces of Canada.

Get to know more and upgrade your skills by learning with us, get started for free on http://talenthunt360.com/

Share your feedback and comments.