[ EDITOR’S NOTE ]
WITH YOUR HELP, WE’LL
KEEP TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT
ONE THING I have learned in the few short months that I’ve
been scribbling this column in the place of Engineering Dimensions’ Editor Jennifer Coombes is that engineers are careful and
critical readers with a wide range of interests and a depth of
knowledge and opinions on many subjects.
I was recently taken to task for the use of the word “factoid”
in the editor’s column in the January/February 2012 issue. A
reader wanted to know if I had stumbled onto a “newer meanMichael
ing” of the word than he was used to. The reader seemed to
Mastromatteo
imply that I was looking to undermine the validity of an arguAssociate Editor
ment made by one of the issue’s contributors. On that score, I
can only admit to imprecision rather than to the implicit charge
of deviousness.
In response to the same issue, we also heard back from some of you over some of
the graphics we used. One engineer said our retro cartoon cover illustration was a disappointing depiction of the complex and sophisticated world of manufacturing. “I would
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8
ENGINEERING DIMENSIONS
never show this to colleagues,” he told
us. Another, involved in manufacturing
for many years, called it “a great cover.”
We welcome your feedback on anything you read or see in Engineering
Dimensions. We always learn something
new when you offer a perspective we
might not have considered.
The theme of this issue is PEO’s
efforts to institute a new Certificate
of Authorization (C of A) regime for
entities in the business of offering or
providing engineering services to the
public. Admittedly long in development–and, in fact, not yet supported
by regulations–the new C of A system
looks to strike a balance between the
needs and expectations of sole practitioners and those of medium- and
large-sized engineering firms.
Over 10 years ago, PEO recognized
the need to update the C of A to make
it a more effective instrument to regulate those in the business of offering
and providing engineering services.
There’s a lack of clarity and consistency
in the current C of A, leading to some
misunderstanding among members and
others, and it’s hoped the new regime,
when implemented, will address much
of what confuses or provokes people
now. In the meantime, our aim is to
remind you about what’s in the works
and provide a progress report, so those
who will be affected can transition
smoothly to the new system, once the
regulation changes are finalized. It’s
crucial that PEO get it as “right” as
possible. See page 24 for more details
on the evolving story.
Also evolving are PEO’s relations
with the Ontario Society of Professional
Engineers (OSPE) in the wake of the
recent referendum on the PEO-OSPE
agreement, the reintroduction in the
Ontario legislature of a bill to create an
OSPE act, and a PEO survey of members about what the regulator’s position
should be on Bill 15. See the news section for the latest developments, and
Viewpoint (p. 30) for a spirited discussion of OSPE’s accomplishments.
march/april 2012