PS News presents reports on recent College activities and a selection of announcements, events and initiatives in the wider education community that may be of interest to our members.
Self-regulation
Changes for accountants, engineers
Changes are coming to two Ontario professional regulatory bodies. The new Chartered Accountants Act, enacted in May, enhances the power of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario to discipline its members. Among the revisions is an increase in the penalty for falsely using a chartered accountant (CA) designation from $300 to $10,000.
Meanwhile, the government introduced legislation that will make it easier for qualified foreign-educated engineers to work in Ontario. Currently, anyone undertaking engineering work must be fully licensed and accountable to Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), and engineers must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents to receive a licence from PEO. The new Open for Business Act will eliminate the legal-status requirement. This will make it easier for qualified foreign professionals to work on projects in Ontario on a temporary basis before returning to their home country.
Another shift will allow engineering technicians and technologists to hold a “certificate of authorization” that will permit them to practise, in some cases, without the direct supervision of a professional engineer.
Both professional regulatory bodies endorsed the changes.
