WHAT’S IN A COMPLAINT?
PEO’s approximately 92,000 licensed engineers and certificate of authorization holders are held to a high level of professionalism, meaning relatively few complaints against them are lodged in any given year. But it does occasionally occur. In this article, we explore the important role of PEO’s Complaints Committee.
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Engineering Dimensions
by Adam Sidsworth ASK ANY PEO MEMBER and they’ll tell you that becoming licensed to practise professional engineering in Ontario is neither quick nor easy. PEO’s licensing process typically involves earning a four-year undergraduate engineering degree from a Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board–approved program or equivalent; completing four years of supervised professional engineering experience, of which at least one year must be in Canada; and passing the Professional Practice Exam, which is scheduled to be replaced by the National Professional Practice Exam this fall (see p. 13). The licensing process is purposely demanding, as Ontario’s engineers are expected to perform their duty ethically and with a high level of professionalism. Ontario’s Professional Engineers Act (PEA), first passed in 1922, has required—since 1937—that professional engineers practising in Ontario be licensed precisely because of the enormous responsibility that engineers have. Should an engineer’s work or conduct not meet certain standards, lives and property can be at risk. Consequently, PEO takes seriously any complaints that are levelled against its members and certificate of authorization (C of A) holders. And that is where the Complaints Committee (COC) comes into action.
July/August 2020