National Position Statements

What are Engineers Canada’s national position statements?

The engineering profession has positions on key issues relating to the public interest. These are consensus positions of the provincial and territorial engineering regulatory bodies of Engineers Canada.

Why does Engineers Canada have national position statements?

These statements:

• represent the collective position of the engineering profession
• influence public policy
• facilitate discussion with government
• provide information for our members and those of the engineering profession

What are the topics?

• Artificial Intelligence Engineering Technology in Autonomous and Connected Vehicles The development of artifi­cial intelligence engineering technology in autonomous and connected vehicles requires the unbiased, evidence-based advice and professional expertise of engineers in Canada. 
• Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events Effective policy responses to climate change and extreme weather events require collaborative efforts between all levels of governments and the engineering profession. 
• Confirmation of Academic Requirements Self-regulation of the engineering profession protects and enhances public health, safety, welfare, the economy, and the environment for all Canadians.
• Building Canada’s High-Speed Broadband Through a Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Engineers Canada believes that broadband connectivity must be reliable, sustainable, secure, protected, and accessible to all Canadians, particularly for those residing in rural, remote, and northern communities
• Demand-Side Legislation When professional engineering work is being done in Canada that work must be done by an engineer licensed in the province where the work is being completed.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The engineering profession believes that it should be reflective of the diversity in Canadian society. 
• Federal Regulations of Small Fishing Vessel Design Any new regulatory framework must recognize the authority of provincial and territorial regulatory associations and must also recognize that work requiring unbiased and transparent naval architectural expertise should be conducted by an engineer licensed to practice in Canada.
• Immigration and Foreign Qualifications Recognition Engineers Canada supports international mobility for qualified engineers and a transparent and open process for admission into the engineering profession in Canada.
• Indigenous People’s Access to Post-Secondary Engineering Education Increasing the representation of Indigenous people in post-secondary engineering education provides significant benefits to Canadian society and the economy by increasing innovation, addressing skills shortages, and increasing diverse perspectives to solve complex problems.
• Infrastructure on Indigenous Reserves and in Remote Indigenous Communities Essential infrastructure on Indigenous reserves and in remote communities, such as safe drinking water, access to stable sources of electricity, wastewater treatment, waste management, information technology, schools and housing, must be properly funded, built to industry standards and be climate resilient.
• Infrastructure Well-designed, properly built, continually maintained, and efficient infrastructure is critical to public safety, quality of life, and a competitive economy.
• National and International Labour Mobility Improving labour mobility within the country ensures that the public can best utilize the expertise, abilities and experience of all engineers in Canada.
• Principles for Development of a Regulatory Regime for Granting Engineering Technologists Independent Practice Rights Principles for development of a regulatory regime for granting engineering technologists independent practice rights: The development of a regulatory regime for granting engineering technologists independent practice rights must incorporate all of the four principles stated herein.
• Procurement of Goods and Services - Engaging and consulting with licensed engineers, be they government employed engineers or consultants, is essential when ensuring that Canadians receive the best possible value from the federal government’s engineering related procurements of goods and services.
• Professional Practice in Biotechnology
  Engineers Canada supports a regulatory framework for biotechnology that integrates social, ethical, health, economic, engineering, science, and environmental considerations within a public safety framework.
• Professional Practice in Cyber Security Cyber security is described as the techniques of protecting computers, networks, hardware, software, programs, and data from unauthorized access or attacks that are aimed for exploitation.
• Professional Practice in Software Engineering Self-regulation of the engineering profession protects and enhances public health, safety, welfare, and the environment for all Canadians.
• Qualifications to provide engineering expertise to panels and boards under federal jurisdiction Providing expert engineering testimony to panels and boards under federal jurisdiction is the practice of engineering and those providing engineering testimony must be appropriately qualified and licensed to do so.
• Qualifications-Based Selection The procurement of services related to engineering works in the public sector is most often obtained through public tendering. Government purchases are driven by policies designed to ensure transparency and value.
• Qualified Person vs Licensed Engineer In Canada, the terms “professional engineer” and “engineer” are restricted by provincial law. 
• Regulation of Coastal, Ocean, and Related Subsurface Engineering Engineers from all disciplines are integral to the exploration, discovery, testing, extraction, and distribution of offshore oil and gas. 
• Regulating the Profession in Federally Regulated Industries Self-regulation of the engineering profession protects and enhances public health, safety, welfare, and the environment for all Canadians.
• Research, Development, and Innovation In this rapidly changing and highly competitive world, improvements to research, development, and innovation must remain a national priority. Industry and government investment in these activities contributes to both economic prosperity and quality of life.
• Role of Engineers in Building a Safe and Resilient Canada Professional engineers play a pivotal role in building safe and resilient communities across Canada in their day-to-day work as they apply technology in creative ways for the benefit of society. 
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Government support of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education is key to ensuring that Canada  strives to maintain leadership in the provision of  STEM intellectual capital to the global market place.
• STEM Education Research Funding  Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education plays a central role in promoting Canada’s economic development and capacity to compete globally as well as increasing Canada’s prosperity and productivity.
• The Role of Engineers in Canada’s Long-term Economic Recovery To ensure Canada’s long-term economic recovery, the federal government should make strategic economic investments in infrastructure, the natural resources and energy, sustainable development and innovation sectors, and diversity initiatives.
• Unleashing Canada’s potential: how Engineers are essential to increasing Canada’s productivity Productivity is the most important determinant of a country’s per capita income over the long term. Productivity measures the efficiency with which an economy transforms inputs into outputs.
• Ventilation Systems and Building Management in Reducing Airborne Contaminants The involvement of licensed professionals, particularly engineers, in the evaluation and modification of current HVAC systems is vital in ensuring that indoor air quality remains at an optimum level, reducing the risk of exposure and spread of pathogens, particularly COVID-19 type diseases.