The 12 engineering regulators who make up Engineers Canada’s members have approved changes to the organization’s bylaws that will reduce Board size and enable greater flexibility in appointing independent directors who may bring targeted competencies to the Board. The changes are part of a broader, multi-year governance reform.
At a Special Meeting of Members on October 8, 2026, members approved amendments implementing two directions endorsed in principle at the May 2026 Annual Meeting of Members: moving to a “one-regulator, one-seat” model and adding independent Directors.
Under the changes, the number of member-nominated Directors will be reduced from 23 to 12, with one Director nominated by each provincial and territorial engineering regulator. The transition will begin at the May 2027 Annual Meeting of Members and proceed as existing Directors complete their terms, reaching 12 member-nominated Directors by 2029.
The bylaws also provide for between one and three independent Directors, who will be elected by the regulators. Once both changes are fully implemented, the Board will therefore comprise between 13 and 15 Directors. The independent Director provisions will take effect at the May 2028 Annual Meeting of Members.
Candidates for Independent Director positions will be recommended to members by Engineers Canada’s Human Resources Committee. The change is intended to broaden the range of perspectives and competencies represented on the Board while maintaining the role of provincial and territorial engineering regulators in Engineers Canada’s governance.
Engineers Canada launched its governance review in the winter of 2025 to address long-standing concerns about Board size, voting structures, and decision-making. Overseen by the Board-appointed Governance Review Task Force, the review included consultations with all 12 regulators, the Engineers Canada Board and staff, the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board, and the Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board.
The consultations revealed differing views on Engineers Canada’s core purpose, particularly whether it should operate primarily as a service provider or as a national alliance of regulators. They also linked recurring debates about Board size, voting, and representation to that fundamental question. The review looked at ways to simplify governance, strengthen how members set collective priorities, and give the Board greater focus on strategy, risk, and national issues.
As part of this broader work, the Board has adopted a definition of Engineers Canada as a national alliance of provincial and territorial engineering regulators. The definition emphasizes collaboration, interprovincial harmonization and support for members in protecting the public interest.
The National Alliance definition will be presented to members at the May 2027 Annual Meeting of Members and will serve as a reference for the ongoing implementation of governance changes.