july 2009 issue
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Resist Protectionism and Foster Mobility, Alberta Minister Says
Editor’s Note: Following is the text of a speech, with minor edits, delivered by the Hon. Hector Goudreau, Minister of Employment and Immigration, May 29 in Banff. Mr. Goudreau is the minister responsible for APEGGA’s enabling legislation, the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act.
In Banff, Mr. Goudreau addressed the topic of professional mobility before a U.S. audience, during the Western Zone Meeting of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. APEGGA hosted the meeting jointly with the Idaho Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.
I am honoured to bring you greetings on behalf of Premier Stelmach and the Government of Alberta. I understand this is the first time that your group has held a meeting outside of the United States.
Welcome to this northern stretch of the majestic Rockies. And to those from other parts of Canada, welcome to Alberta and to Banff.
This is a great location to hold your meeting and I hope you have a chance to experience this place, maybe see some wildlife, and take in the beautiful scenery here. Even the weather is cooperating!
Among the many experiences Americans and Canadians share is the not-so-fortunate experience of our current economic environment, which is undergoing some dramatic adjustments. However, we can find opportunity in these difficult times, and position our provinces and states to make the most of the return to economic growth.
Albertans pride themselves on a no-nonsense, get-it-done attitude. We like free trade and freedom of mobility so we can get the job done.
A combination of realism and confidence form the basis of the Alberta Government’s economic plan for supporting a strong and sustained recovery. Alberta is better positioned to weather the storm than most jurisdictions.
We have no provincial debt. Interest rates are low. And the world’s need for our products, from oil to agriculture, will continue to grow.
The massive investments in public infrastructure which form part of the U.S. administration’s recovery plan will require a stable supply of energy: secure energy, produced responsibly.
President Obama has spoken about reducing U.S. dependency on oil imports from unstable parts of the world as part of his New Energy for America plan. Perhaps most importantly, we are one of the very few places in the industrialized world in a position to substantially increase oil production. This is energy the world will need if we’re going to make a strong recovery.
Alberta has also saved almost $8 billion in our sustainability fund for exactly the situation we now find ourselves in. We can cushion the impact of a dramatic reduction in our resource revenues. There’s also more than $6 billion in the government’s capital account so we can continue to invest in the public infrastructure necessary for a sustained recovery.
Whether it is due to private sector industrial construction or government infrastructure projects, the need for engineers, geologists and geophysicists will continue. There’s also a strong consensus among governments across Canada and around the world that this is the time to get good value for the taxpayer’s dollar, to keep people working, to build the public infrastructure we will need for a strong recovery — and emerge from this downturn with improved productivity.
So, I’m optimistic that governments will resist the urge for protectionism, which made previous economic downturns deeper than they needed to be.
Labour mobility will be a crucial part of our economic recovery.
If you want to work, you are welcome to come and help build our province, especially if you are skilled. As the minister responsible for the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act, I can tell you that I am proud to be associated with the 55,000 members of APEGGA. I know from my experience with them that engineers have a strong sense of professional responsibility.
You are not willing to compromise on professional standards, public safety or ethics.
So I understand that the issue of comity is no small matter and needs to be addressed seriously.
I also know that APEGGA members have been some of the leaders in establishing labour mobility within Canada.
Alberta and our neighbouring province on the western side of the Rockies, British Columbia, have signed an agreement called the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement, or TILMA. We have also entered into the Agreement on Internal Trade, or AIT, which has been endorsed by the federal government and all Canadian provinces and territories.
AIT requires that all provinces accept the qualifications of professionals from other Canadian jurisdictions.
APEGGA has been quick to engage government about their ability to safeguard the public interest through reassessment of out-of-province applicants. So I know that they do not take their responsibilities lightly.
The Association and its members are practical and cooperative and I thank them for that.
APEGGA has also been helping the Alberta Government through a number of its own initiatives.
As many of you know, APEGGA is working with state boards in the western states to allow mutual recognition of engineering credentials. They are working through the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region to allow seamless mobility of professionals across borders and I strongly encourage them to continue.
I can assure you that government is committed to working closely with APEGGA to ensure that you meet your legislative responsibilities, strengthen public safety, and serve the public interest.
In fact, all the NCEES members here should be confident the Alberta Government is here to work with you. We want to ensure you have the quality control and the flexibility you need to do your job in times of economic uncertainty.
So I look forward to working with all of you in the future as we help create economic recovery.
All the best for a productive meeting.
Thank you.
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