The Professional Governance Act received royal assent on November 27 and is now law.
The new legislation applies to five natural resources sector professions, and will eventually replace existing governing Acts:
- Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC (Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Act)
- Association of BC Forest Professionals (Foresters Act)
- BC Institute of Agrologists (Agrologists Act)
- College of Applied Biology (College of Applied Biology Act)
- Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (Engineers and Geoscientists Act)
Under the new legislation, an Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance housed in the Attorney General’s office will be established and key elements of professional governance such as council composition and bylaw creation will be codified.
It is anticipated that the new Professional Governance Act will come into full force within three to five years. During this time, supplementary “Regulation” prescribing industry-specific elements such as titles and scopes of practice will be developed.
Introduced for first reading on October 22 by the Honourable George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Bill 49–2018: the Professional Governance Act moved its way through the legislature, including extensive discussion at the committee level, in just over a month.
Read the Hansard transcripts.
- Introduction and First reading (October 22, afternoon)
- Second reading (October 30, morning) (October 30, afternoon)
- Committee (November 8, morning) (November 8, afternoon)
- Third reading (November 22, 2018)
The impact of this legislation outside the scope of the five natural resource regulators has yet to be seen. The AIBC continues to monitor and review the situation.