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 a new exemption for the use of the word 'engineer' in specific contexts.
  • Allows individuals or entities to use the phrase 'software engineer' or other similar phrases (as prescribed by regulation) without being considered professional engineers or subject to the Act's title protection.
  • Grants the Minister of Advanced Education the authority to make regulations prescribing additional words or phrases similar to 'software engineer' that would also be 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.
  • Centralizes decision-making power with the Minister to define the boundaries of this exemption, rather than leaving it to the professional body or judicial interpretation.
  • Clarifies the legal use of 'software engineer' and similar titles, affecting 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)