THE REGULATOR

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

The College of Applied Biologists (CAB) reflects on 20 years of unique regulation

Christine Houghton, CEO, College of Applied Biologists

In 2003, the government of British Columbia took a bold and important step in recognizing applied biology as a self-regulating profession by introducing the College of Applied Biology Act and establishing the College of Applied Biology (the College). This legislation was the first in the world to acknowledge applied biology in resource management by protecting the registered titles for Registered Professional Biologists (RPBios), and later Registered Biology Technologists (RBTechs) and Applied Biology Technicians (ABTs). Twenty years later, the College ― now the College of Applied Biologists ― has grown both in the number of registrants and in its mandate to protect the public interest.

Recognizing that the journey started long before 2003, the latest leg in the evolving the professional governance of applied biology was initiated in October 2017 with the Professional Reliance Review. The review culminated in the introduction of the Professional Governance Act (PGA) in the fall of 2018. The PGA allowed for the ability of the College to enhance its mandate to better protect the public by enshrining practice rights (now reserved practice) in legislation — another global first.

The transition from a member-driven association to a professional regulator over a relatively short period of time has been both inspiring and challenging. As with any challenge, there are opportunities. Finding those opportunities and then capitalizing on them while maintaining our core statutory duties was a reach for a small regulator like the College. The advantage to this is having a dedicated and committed team of staff and volunteers to take on the key steps required to move forward at what (in regulatory development) felt like lightning speed.

As well, there was no existing model of professional regulation for applied biology. This meant we were charting a new course without the benefit of learning from how it was managed in other jurisdictions. It did feel at times that we “were flying the plane while building it.”

As applied scientists, the College approached the task systemically. We catalogued what needed to change to come into compliance with the PGA, we assessed those things that could be improved regardless of the statute, and we identified where registrants and potential registrants may need support as we moved forward. Our objective was to have a clear, effective, transparent regulatory regime that would ensure that the College continued to put protecting the public interest at the centre of all its undertakings.

The result has been a relatively seamless transition to the new requirements of the PGA and the implementation of reserved practice1.

So why is it important that applied biology is regulated? We all know that we rely on professionals every day. We need to have confidence that the bridge we are crossing is safe, the diagnosis we are receiving is sound or the prescription we are filling is correct. We also need to be confident that the management of our precious and finite natural resources is sustainable.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 15 is to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss” (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sustainable Development). How we meet this goal ― and it must be “how” not “if” ― will require that we look beyond economic benefits to the long-term benefits of environmental sustainability.

While not perfect, here in British Columbia we have taken some important steps. Being the first jurisdiction in the world to bring reserved practice into force, the province has clearly indicated that it puts a priority on ensuring that a qualified, competent and accountable applied biology professional is assessing, interpreting and recommending mitigation measures or alternative solutions as it relates to impacts on the receiving environment.

But applied biologists are only part of the answer. There is much we can learn from the Indigenous Peoples who have lived here for well over 10,000 years and who have successfully and sustainably cared for the lands and waters. That Indigenous

Knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation and it plays a critical role in meeting the United Nations Goal 15.

Indigenous stewardship of the lands and waters goes back from time in memorial; regulated applied biology professionals have only been around for twenty years (and with reserved practice only since September 1, 2022). However, by listening and learning from Indigenous Peoples, and working collaboratively, we can all play a part in ensuring our children and our grandchildren have a future they can look forward to and a past they can be proud of. The next twenty years are going to be critical.