*OCTOBER 29 UPDATE: After consideration and discussion, including review of feedback from Registrants, the Board has made adjustments to the proposed requirements for the Mandatory Firm Registrants Course – specifically regarding deadlines and required participants. Updates were made to draft Schedule T: Board Rules for Firm Continuing Education Requirements and the Bylaw Amendments Chart to reflect the changes. Please read the October 29 News Item for the most recent information on the Mandatory Firm Registrant Course.
No changes were made to the other proposed bylaw amendments, or proposed new Professional Standard.
The AIBC continues its review and modernization of both the AIBC Bylaws and the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (Code of Ethics). This is a notification for Registrants and the public about several proposed amendments to the AIBC Bylaws and a new Professional Standard that requires timely communication by Registrants with authorities having jurisdiction. Of note, these proposed amendments have received approval in principle from the AIBC Board and are under review by the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance (OSPG).
Registrants are reminded that under the Professional Governance Act (PGA), the Board is authorized to amend the AIBC Bylaws and the Code of Ethics, for delivery to the OSPG for final decision and filing by the Minister.
Proposed Bylaw Amendments
The proposed amendments impact a range of bylaws, including Committee composition, Registration and Licensing, Firm Continuing Education, Schedules, and a new Professional Standard. While most of the proposed amendments to the AIBC Bylaws are relatively minor in nature, there are several changes of note. To see the proposed amendments with accompanying rationale, please refer to the AIBC Bylaw Amendment Chart.
A summary of the more substantive changes can be found below:
Firm Continuing Education
- Current Bylaw 5.26 establishes Firm Continuing Education requirements. The proposed amendments clarify that:
- all new Certificate of Practice applicants must complete the AIBC Firm Course as of January 1, 2025, as a
pre-requisite for issuance of their Certificate of Practice; - all existing Firms will be required to complete the Firm Course over the next two years – by January 1, 2027; and
- completion of the Firm Course occurs through Individual Registrants at the Firm designated in the new Schedule T: Board Rules for Firm Continuing Education Requirements.
- all new Certificate of Practice applicants must complete the AIBC Firm Course as of January 1, 2025, as a
- New Schedule T: Board Rules for Firm Continuing Education Requirements is authorized by Bylaw 5.25 and sets out the detailed requirements for Firm Continuing Education. The Rules would establish:
- that all Individual Registrants who are in an ownership position (meaning sole proprietors, partners, and directors, or shareholders of voting shares in corporation) must complete the course;
- that all Architects AIBC employed by a Registrant Firm (regardless of ‘ownership’ status) must complete the course; and
- the consequences for non-compliance.
Federal Government-Employed Architects
- Current Bylaw 4.36 establishes Certificate of Practice requirements. Amendments are proposed to replicate the exemption from the Certificate of Practice requirement that was previously found in the Architects Act for federal government Architects. Note that such exemption does not change the core regulatory requirements such as those for registration, continuing education, and Professional Standards for these Registrants.
Read the AIBC Bylaws Amendment Chart (PDF)
Read Draft Schedule T: Board Rules for Firm Continuing Education Requirements (PDF)
Proposed New Professional Standard in the Code of Ethics
The Professional Standards Advisory Group is recommending the addition of a new Professional Standard in the Code of Ethics that requires Registrants to communicate adequately and in a timely manner with authorities having jurisdiction. The new Professional Standard addresses an issue identified by AIBC Practice Advice of a pattern of Architects failing to respond to, or adequately communicate with, local governments, particularly when they are acting as applicants for permits on behalf of Clients.
This new standard is not intended to prescribe deadlines nor context of communication, but instead to confirm that reasonable communication with authorities is a professional obligation.
Learn More about the New Professional Standard on the AIBC website
Read the New Professional Standard with commentary (PDF)
Registrant Feedback – Complete the Online Feedback Form
The AIBC Board invites your review of the proposed amendments to AIBC Bylaws and new proposed Professional Standard and encourages your consultation participation.
Feedback can be submitted to the AIBC by emailing bylawfeedback@aibc.ca. In addition, an online feedback form is available for Registrants to share their comments. The deadline to submit feedback is November 3, 2024.
The amendments and any feedback received will be presented to the AIBC Board in mid-October for final bylaw approval. If approved, the Bylaws will be filed with the OSPG. Once in effect, Registrants and the public will be notified.