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    Professional Registration Committee of CGC

    Four jurisdictions in Canada currently register geoscientists as Professional Geoscientists (P.Geo.), Professional Geologists (P.Geol.) or Professional Geophysicists (P.Geoph.). These are:

  • Alberta: began in 1966, 3500-4000 members in the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA).
  • British Columbia: began in 1990, approximately 850 members in the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC).
  • Newfoundland: began in 1988, 100-200 members in the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland (APEGN).
  • Northwest Territories: began in 1981, 50-60 members in the Northwest Territories Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists (NAPPED).

    In other jurisdictions the situation is as follows:

  • Manitoba: A report by the Manitoba Law Reform Commission on professional registration in the province has stalled introduction of the revised engineering and geoscience act into the legislature.
  • New Brunswick: Because of an impending provincial election, changes to the engineering act will probably not go to the legislature before next year at the earliest. The intervening time is being used for mutual education of engineers and geoscientists and fine-tuning the new act by the joint engineer-geoscientist liaison committee.
  • Nova Scotia: A new engineering and geoscience act has been developed by a joint committee and could be submitted to the provincial legislature as early as the Fall of 1995.
  • Ontario: Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and the Committee for Professional Registration of Geoscientists in Ontario (CPRGO) continue to meet. As yet it is uncertain whether geoscientists will be included under a revised engineering act or whether an association of geoscientists will be formed to seek right-to-title legislation as an interim solution to the need for recognition of geoscientists.
  • Prince Edward Island and Yukon: The few geoscientists in these jurisdictions have not expressed strong interest in registration. Those who require registration will undoubtedly apply to an adjoining province.
  • Québec: Legislation to grant right-to-title authority to the Association of Professional Geologists and Geophysicists of Québec (APGGQ) bas been passed by the assembly but not yet been approved by the cabinet or proclaimed in the Provincial Gazette.
  • Saskatchewan: A revised engineering and geoscience act is expected to be introduced in the legislature at its next sitting, in late 1995 or early l996.

    Version 3.3 of a proposed National Geology Syllabus has been developed by the Curriculum Subcommittee, and will be widely publicized throughout the country. Organizations may choose to use all or parts of it as they wish.

    Version 1.1 of a proposed National Geophysics Syllabus has been drafted. Further work will be done by a Geophysics Subcommittee with members from the Council of Chairs of Canadian Earth Science Departments (CCCESD), the Canadian Geophysical Union (CGU), the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (CSEG), APEGGA and APEGBC.

    The role of geoscientists in environmental practice and the possibility of developing a national environmental geoscience/geotechnical syllabus has been discussed.

    At its Annual meeting in Winnipeg in May, 1995, the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE) voted to support the formation of a Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists (CCPG) to act as an umbrella organization for those associations that register or certify geoscientists. The CCPG would facilitate transferability of registration by encouraging common standards for registration; promote mobility of geoscientists and reciprocity of practice among registering associations; provide for national geoscience syllabi; evaluate academic programs; and would represent professional geoscientists at the national and international level. A task force has been established by the CCPE to examine and advise on areas of potential common interest and activity between CCPE and CCPG and to develop procedures, mechanisms and a business plan for implementing activities in these common areas. Five members of the Professional Registration Committee (Michel Bouchard Hugh Miller, Bill Pearson, Phil Reeves and Gordon Williams) have been appointed to the task force, along with four other geoscientists (Tom Hoefer, NAPEGG, Hugh Morris, CGC, Linda Thorstad, APEGBC, Chair; Rick Young, APEGGA).

    The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) has provided approximately $50,000 to operate the Professional Registration Committee during the past five years, Other support has come from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland (APEGN), and seed money was originally provided by CGC. In addition employers of Committee members have generously supported the activities of the Committee by making time and services available. All the above assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

    Gordon D. Williams