Your council is committed to seeking input from members and other AIBC registrants and reporting on ongoing initiatives and activities. With that in mind, I want to draw your attention to two items of particular interest. First, I would like to share an update regarding the recently held council retreat and second, I would like to discuss in some detail the upcoming bylaw initiative on associates.
Council Retreat Update
Council and senior management participated in a stimulating two-day retreat this summer. We examined the demands expected of a professional regulatory body, participated in a mock disciplinary hearing skillfully facilitated by general counsel Thomas Lutes, endorsed operational plans and outcomes and finalized council’s 2016/17 work plan, all in support of the Strategic Plan.
It has been an extremely busy year with many accomplishments and much to be proud of. Buoyed by this productivity, and equipped with a keen council and staff, another ambitious year is planned.
We will continue to regularly communicate and consult with members and other AIBC registrants on AIBC activity by way of a variety of digital and in-person channels. As part of this commitment, and for ease of reference, council work plans and presentations will be available on a dedicated page on the website.
Bylaw Review: Associates
AIBC’s statutory authority regarding associates can be traced back to 1920 and the original Act to Incorporate The Architectural Institute of British Columbia. Fast forward to the current Architects Act, and Section 40 clearly states that “council may admit any person as an associate of the institute, may divide associates into different classes and set the qualifications for each class.”
Still, it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge that certain aspects of associate admissions have been an issue for the AIBC, and at times, a contentious one. The intention of this message is to clearly outline council’s direction as the profession moves forward on behalf of the public.
For the last few years, guided by AIBC’s regulatory mandate, a significant amount of progress on the topic of associates has been made. By way of council and staff committee recommendations, and informed by member and other registrant feedback, council has since 2013 approved a number of motions intended to align, integrate and clarify the AIBC associate landscape.
The most recent example occurred last March when council established regulatory requirements regarding associates providing services in the exceptions (S. 60, Architects Act). The three rulings connected to AIBC Bylaw 34.10 requires associates to notify clients and authorities having jurisdiction on their associate as well as insurance status. Council decisions were made taking into consideration member feedback, survey results and recommendations from the Associates Task Force and Bylaw Review Committee.
For the past year, further to council’s request, the Bylaw Review Committee (BRC) has been reviewing the current bylaws related to AIBC associates. The outcome of their review is where we find ourselves today.
Council endorses the straightforward bylaw amendments put forward by the BRC and looks forward to active member participation during the upcoming consultation period. The proposed amendments, distilled down to four clearly articulated bylaws, address a number deficiencies, inconsistencies and outdated language. Corresponding draft rules which support the bylaws will be included with the bylaw information, though their adoption will trigger a separate notification process.
I’d like to take this opportunity to address the relationship between bylaws and rules authorized through bylaws. Whereas the proposed bylaws lay the foundation, the draft rules stipulate specific designations and admission qualifications. These rules mirror the current qualifications for associates. Council believes presenting the proposed bylaws along with the corresponding draft rules is the best way for members to understand the amendments and make an informed decision come voting time. I’d like to stress that should the bylaws pass – and hopefully they will – another notification period specifically for the rules will be triggered for additional feedback.
I strongly urge you to review the material, attend and ask questions at the consultation sessions where council members will be in attendance, submit comments via the online feedback form and finally, when the time comes, to vote. All the information you need to get started is located on the AIBC website.
On behalf of my fellow council members, I look forward to your participation during the upcoming bylaw consultation phase.
If you have any questions or concerns, as always, please don’t hesitate to contact me at president@aibc.ca.
Yours truly,
Darryl J. Condon Architect AIBC AAA SAA OAA FRAIC LEED AP
AIBC Council President