LETTER TO THE EDITOR — APEGBC part of solution, not problem

We read with alarm and dismay Jack Charlton’s letter (“National QP standards a must,” T.N.M., Sept. 14-20/98) referring to either elitist or xenophobic organizations such as the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC). Mr. Charlton states that such organizations prevent Canadian geologists suitably qualified in other provinces from working within their boundaries. This is simply not true.

APEGBC is a self-regulatory organization, set up under law by the province of British Columbia, with a governing code of ethics, established standards, and procedures for discipline. There are in fact several routes by which geoscientists and engineers from other places can apply and gain membership in the organization (based on the number of geology graduates from British Columbia universities, it is likely that most of the geoscientist members are from “outside”). All members are bound by the code of ethics, and failure to abide by the code brings into play a legislated discipline process. The organization therefore helps to provide checks and balances (unfortunately needed in these greedy times) not available elsewhere.

If Mr. Charlton is so concerned about his livelihood, he should perhaps take time to investigate more fully what input associations like APEGBC have provided to the practice of geoscience across Canada. APEGBC belongs to, and provides representatives to, the Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists — one national body seeking to promote mobility within the various provinces. Our delegates have been extremely active in providing input into this process. APEGBC strongly supports the concept of a “Qualified Person” and has also contributed extensively to the Toronto Stock Exchange/ Ontario Securities Commission Mining Standards Task Force seeking to define the Qualified Person concept. Our members have also worked hard on the National Geoscience Syllabus, which has sought to define course equivalencies across Canada.

It is geoscientists in Ontario and Quebec who have fallen behind the rest of the country. Instead of slinging arrows at the self-regulatory organizations that already exist, perhaps they would do well to learn and profit from the experience of geoscience organizations in other provinces, which have already expended considerable (largely volunteer) efforts in reaching out for consensus and working toward a national solution. APEGBC would welcome any efforts that Mr. Charlton and his colleagues care to make to organize themselves and complete the necessary work (as has been done in British Columbia and five other provinces) to form equivalent bodies with statutory powers in Ontario and Quebec with which we can discuss national standards and their implementation.

Jenna Hardy

Chairman

APEGBC Geoscience Committee