Which regulatory bodies can regulate firms?  

• EGBC is the first regulatory body given the authority through regulation to regulate firms. 

• AIBC was brought under the PGA on February 10, 2023 and was given the authority to regulate firms, which was a continuation of their authority under the repealed Architects Act. 

• What are the requirements for engineering and geoscience firms?  

• At this time, firms doing engineering or geoscience work in the province will have to register with EGBC through the website. 

• Registrant firms are required to meet the requirements of the PGA and EGBC bylaws. 

• Refer to EGBC’s website for more information on firm registration.   

What does it mean that government registrants must be prescribed as firms? 

• The definition of ‘firms’ in the PGA is broad and encompasses any entity doing the regulated practice of engineering or geoscience at this time, including local government bodies, but the definition distinguishes government registrants, meaning provincial government ministries and agencies, as needing to be prescribed. 

• This means that unlike the private sector, where all firms offering services in engineering and geoscience will have to register, provincial government ministries and agencies that are doing engineering and geoscience work need to be specifically named by government to participate. 

• Including provincial government ministries in such regulation is novel and has its own challenges due to the size and complexity of these bodies and the complex regulatory environment they already operate in. Many of the ministries and agencies that would be logical to include have been named and once the details of this process are worked out, others could be added. 

What is the timeframe/schedule for the different ministries to become registered as government registrant firms? 

• There is no set timeframe. 

• Once the OSPG and EGBC have lessons learned from the first round of ministries and agencies that have been named, government may choose to prescribe other government entities as firms. 

If a ‘firm’ registers, how are the non-registrants who work for the firm considered?  

• There should be little direct effect on non-registrant employees. 

• The registration of the firms is meant to assure alignment and avoid conflict between the firm’s policies and procedures with the professional obligations individual registrants have.