Quantity Surveying & Estimating Proceeding towards professional excellence

Arif Ghaffur, PQS(F)

During the preparation of the CIQS strategic plan in 2022, the CIQS Board and CEO agreed that the Institute was seeking to elevate itself as a professional organization. Further, it was agreed that the CIQS is well-positioned to build on the progress of previous years, and it is time to take the next step.

The CIQS strategic plan covering the period 2022-2025 includes wide-ranging initiatives, as I set out in the fall 2022 edition of Construction Economist. The overall aim is to solidify and develop new initiatives that promote quantity surveying and estimating as professions of choice.

The scene was set for the CIQS to take the important step of elevating the profession. In pursuing this agenda and achieving outcome objectives, it is important to understand the scope of the services provided by the CIQS designations:

• Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS)

• Construction Estimator Certified (CEC)

Each CIQS member (PQS/ECA, CEC/ECC) is signatory to a licensing agreement that is subject to annual renewal and good standing. In executing the licensing agreement, each member receives license to use (during the term of the licence) and CIQS designations in association with the services set out in the agreement, including but not necessarily limited to:

• Perform the services in accordance with the National Standards established by the CIQS and associated documents as may be amended and updated.

• Comply with all CIQS bylaws, rules, regulations and directives as published and amended from time to time by the CIQS including, without limitation, the National Standards.

• Do all things and execute all documents, to secure and protect CIQS rights, title and interest in the CIQS Marks and Designations.

• The CIQS grants a limited, revocable, nonexclusive, unassignable and nonsublicensable licence to display the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, CIQS and CIQS & Design marks in Canada (“CIQS Marks”).

• Any and all use of the CIQS Marks and Designations by the members, including all goodwill appertaining thereto, inure to the sole benefit of the CIQS.

• The CIQS Marks and Designations are to be used in accordance with the CIQS brand use guidelines and requirements, as amended from time to time.

Such scope of services is subject to an annual selfcertification of continuing professional development (CPD). The overall aim is to identify and understand the scope that members are expected to deliver and to ensure that these remain relevant and current with the supplementation of CPD. Further, each CIQS member is signatory to an agreement that is subject to annual renewal and good standing. In executing the agreement, each CIQS member may provide services that comply with all CIQS bylaws, rules, regulations and directives as published and amended from time to time by the CIQS including, without limitation, the National Standards.

Recognizing that there is no government legislation regulating our profession, in having members provide services in line with the licensing agreement and in being a self-regulated professional body, the CIQS continues to provide members with the comfort that the expectations of membership are adhered to. This is in addition to providing the public with the assurance that CIQS members are upholding professional standards. Such comfort and assurances recognize the CIQS National Standards and Bylaws as the baseline documents for the Institute to transact its obligations to its internal and external stakeholders.

I was recently asked about the relevance of these baseline documents. The purpose of the National Standards is to ensure that each individual holding a designation issued by the CIQS upholds a consistent set of standards and ethics. The CIQS Bylaws are established so as to regulate the Institute, with both the National Standards and the Bylaws being subject to update by the CIQS Board. The Bylaws include sections on Interpretation, General; Members; Meetings of Members; Directors; Chapters; Committees; Meetings of Directors; Officers; Conflict of Interest; Protection of Directors; Officers and Others; Notices; Dispute Resolution; etc.

To solidify the profession and the CIQS’s obligation to its members and the public, the CEO’s office has launched initiatives that ensure that the CIQS governance is adhered to. Now required, are member self-declarations of good character for both an application for membership and annual membership renewal. These checks and balances are aimed at elevating the profession even further, consistent with the CIQS 2022 strategic plan.

I look forward to seeing you in June at the 2023 CIQS Congress in Calgary, Alta. In the interim, I hope that you and your families have an enjoyable spring and I wish you all the best for the months ahead.

Respectfully submitted,

Arif Ghaffur, PQS (F) Chair, CIQS