PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ONTARIO
OVERVIEW
Ontario's professional engineers were concerned that they were lacking influence with the Ontario Government. Several government changes were introduced that encroached on the self-regulatory body’s legislative role and responsibilities. Leveraging its lengthy regulatory history and the broad involvement of professional engineers in society, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) sought ways to improve government understanding of PEO and the value and importance of the P.Eng. licence.
Established on June 14, 1922, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) is the licensing and regulating body for professional engineering in the province.
BROWN & COHEN SOLUTION
- Introduced highly successful Government Liaison Program to over 85,000 engineers in 36 chapters. Program includes a weekly newsletter for both MPPs and engineering leadership across the province.
- Mobilized comprehensive grassroots network of engineers willing to engage politically.
- Consulted on how to strategically approach government about changes to the Building Code Act, which imposed on PEO’s ability to regulate professional engineers and supported the launch of a courtcase that resulted in legislation being overturned.
- Established new alliances with outside organizations facing common issues.
- Organized annual Queen’s Park Days (with more than 50 MPPs), Campaign and Candidate Colleges (with over 200 participants), Town Halls (with Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MPPs), and Engineering & Public Policy Conferences.
THE RESULT
- For the last ten years, PEO has enjoyed a strong relationship with government which continues to grow, evidenced by meetings with Ministers and MPP from all three parties.
- An independent audit of the Government Liaison program showed that our firm “does an excellent job in getting access to MPPs” and “is effective [and] educates on issues.”
- PEO had significant input into legislative changes that strengthened the Professional Engineers Act, which were passed into law on December 14, 2017.
MEMBERS OF THE PEO LONDON CHAPTER WITH JEFF YUREK, MPP (LONDON-ELGIN-MIDDLESEX, PC), FOURTH FROM THE LEFT, ON “TAKE YOUR MPP TO WORK DAY”
PEO ACADEMIES AND CONGRESSES BRING TOGETHER ENGINEERS (STANDING) AND MPP'S FROM ALL PARTIES (SEATED) FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE