october 2009 issue

Home > Members > Publications > The PEGG > October 2009

COMPLIANCE
Are the Companies You Hire Holding
Permits to Practice?

BY MICHAEL NETH, P.ENG.
Assistant Director, Compliance

Did you know that any company that practices engineering, geology or geophysics in Alberta must have a permit to practice? By law, it must. How about companies that aren’t practicing yet but are offering engineering, geological or geophysical services? By law, they must also have a permit to practice.

APEGGA has been delegated the responsibility to enforce the EGGP Act on behalf of the Province of Alberta. APEGGA takes this responsibility very seriously; the Compliance Department of APEGGA works diligently on behalf of the public and our members to ensure that all companies requiring a permit have one, get one, or cease their activities.

As APEGGA members and as members of the public, you should learn whether the companies that work for you as engineering, geological or geophysical consultants and contractors hold valid permits to practice. One good reason to check is that the law requires them to have one.

If a company is willing to bend the rules regarding the permit, maybe it is also willing to bend the rules in other areas that are not in your interest. If APEGGA learns that a company has been in violation of the EGGP Act and it refuses to become compliant, we may seek a legal injunction or press charges against the non-complying company.

Another reason is quality. Prior to issuing a permit to practice, APEGGA does its due diligence and confirms that the company employs at least one professional member in good standing, qualified by training and experience within the scope practice of the company.

APEGGA also requires that all permit-holding companies maintain a Professional Practice Management Plan. The PPMP is a professional-quality plan intended to ensure that the company has the processes and the resources in place to provide consistently safe and professional work.

A third reason is confidence. Permit-holding companies must adhere to the legal and ethical requirements of the profession, including the APEGGA Code of Ethics. A company that practices in an unskilled or unethical manner can be investigated and sanctioned by APEGGA — even to the point of having its permit revoked.

You have a right to know if a company offering or providing engineering, geo-logical or geophysical services has a permit to practice. Many companies proudly display their permit number. If they do not, you can always ask them or check with APEGGA.

Our website has a section called Permit Register under the Fast Find and Members headings on the home page. The register allows you to search our database for current permit status. You can also call APEGGA directly and we will be glad to assist you.

The Compliance Department welcomes your enquiries and complaints, if you find a company offering or providing professional services that does not have a permit to practice. If appropriate to do so, we will initiate an investigation into the matter.

Report a Violation

If you are aware of practice or title violations and you are able to provide evidence (reports, letters, business cards, websites, etc.), we encourage you to contact Michael Neth, P.Eng., Assistant Director, Compliance, at mneth@apega.ca.

Because the Compliance Department deals with non-members, we do not reveal the source of a complaint when you make contact.