Why are some professions under PGA, but not other professions? 

• The PGA was developed out of the recommendations in the 2018 Professional Reliance Review, which focused on regulatory bodies that incorporate professional reliance in the Natural Resource Sector (NRS). 

• The current focus of professions under the PGA is the NRS and the built environment. 

• More professions may come under the PGA in the future, as a result of designation assessments or requests from the profession to become regulated. 

What is the process for new professions to come under the PGA? 

• The Superintendent can receive applications from other professions for designation under the PGA and conduct assessments to determine if it is in the public interest for a profession to be designated under the PGA. 

• The Lieutenant Governor in Council is responsible for designating new professions following a recommendation by the Minister. 

• For more information, visit ‘ Adding Professions’ 

Why is the OSPG under the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills? 

• This change has been made in recognition of the linkages between professional governance, labour mobility, and international credential recognition, which will now fall under the same office within the Ministry. 

Why is the Professional Governance Act needed? 

• The independent final report of the Professional Reliance Review recommended the creation of a new office to oversee professional regulation, develop best practices for professional governance, and standardize elements of professional governance through umbrella legislation. 

• Some of the elements of the PGA and oversight model were informed by issues observed with the existing model such as conflicts of interest and professional independence. 

• The legislation is putting a governance framework in place that follows international best practices and helps regulatory bodies to strengthen their role in protecting the public interest and improve public trust in professionals. 

Only 2 of the recommendations of the Professional Reliance Review report were about governance – what is the status of the other 100+ recommendations in that report? 

• The Professional Reliance Review report was a comprehensive review of professional reliance in the natural resource sector. 

• One major aspect of the review aimed at examining professional governance issues in the natural resource sector, involving the regulation by professional associations of agrologists, biologists, engineers, geoscientists, foresters and applied science technicians and technologists. 

• The first two recommendations were accepted and instituted – resulting in the creation of the PGA and the OSPG. The other recommendations which address improvements to statutes, regulations, and authorizations, and are also specific to certain areas such as hazardous waste and dam safety, will be addressed by the ministry responsible for the legislation. 

• For information on the status of a specific recommendation from the Professional Reliance Review report, individuals are encouraged to connect with the responsible ministry.