Alberta Record

· Bill / Engineering title exemption · enacted

Bill 7 — Engineering and Geoscience Professions Amendment Act, 2023

This bill creates an exemption for 'software engineers' from professional title restrictions and grants the Minister new regulation-making power to define similar exempt titles.

Moderate impactCentralization of powerCivil libertiesInstitutional independenceThe public, directlyIndependent watchdogs

What changed

  • Amends the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act to introduce an exemption for the use of the word 'engineer' in specific contexts.
  • Permits individuals or entities to use 'software engineer' or other phrases prescribed by regulation without being subject to the Act's title protection.
  • Expands the Minister of Advanced Education's authority to prescribe additional words or phrases, similar to 'software engineer,' that are exempt from title protection.

Why it matters

  • Reduces the scope of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta's (APEGA) authority over the exclusive use of the 'engineer' title.
  • Shifts authority from the professional body to the Minister for defining the boundaries of this exemption.
  • Clarifies the legal use of 'software engineer' and similar titles, impacting individuals in the technology sector.

Other governance concerns

  • Shift of authority from a professional self-regulating body to a government minister
  • Impact on professional autonomy and title protection

Primary sources (1)

Secondary sources (3)