A major component of the AIBC’s transition to the Professional Governance Act (“PGA”) is the development of new bylaws and an updated Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (“Code of Ethics”) to meet the requirements of the PGA.
As previously advised, the PGA requires all regulators to include 12 specific ethical principles in their Code of Ethics. While most of these principles are consistent with existing professional standards and are familiar to architects and other registrants, some are new or require interpretive guidance to make them relevant to the practice of the profession of architecture. In some cases, such as dealing with ‘conflicts of interest’, the general PGA principle has resulted in the amalgamation of existing AIBC bylaws and council rulings. Of note, none of the PGA standards to be incorporated in the Code of Ethics is substantively different from existing professional practice expectations.
The Bylaw Review Committee and staff, with input from the Council PGA Working Group, have created an excerpt of the Code of Ethics specific to the 12 PGA principles, with draft commentary, which is now available on the AIBC website.
Read the excerpt from the draft Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (PDF)
Submit Comments and Feedback
Registrant feedback and questions are welcome. Although there will be no vote on the draft Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, there is still an active consultation process, and we encourage architects and other registrants to review the material and submit all feedback to pga@aibc.ca.
Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Next Steps
In the new year, a full, re-formatted Code of Ethics that includes the ‘new’ PGA principles and ports over most existing standards from the current Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct will be published for feedback. After transition to the PGA, the Code of Ethics will become a ‘schedule’ to the new AIBC Bylaws under the legislation.
In general, the AIBC is nearing the final stages of the transition to the Professional Governance Act. It is anticipated that in the first quarter of 2023, the Institute will be fully under the PGA. Once the exact date is available, the AIBC will publish an announcement via Notice to all registrants.
Read the excerpt from the draft Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (PDF)