2022 Year in Review
To our member firms a sincere thank you for your support again this year. Without your trust and confidence in the Association we would not function.
To the other members of the Board and our Executive Director my sincerest gratitude for the collaborative effort and time you have put forward this year as we continue to work towards educating others on the important contributions consulting engineering professionals make to society. To the Future Leaders group that has started to develop this year, thank you for your interest in the Association and I am excited in what the future will reveal from this group of bright and eager individuals. |
This year has been a challenging one as we continue to see the procurement of our services diminished to a price only model for a lot of public work, documents with poorly defined scope, unachievable budgets and schedules being forced upon us, and construction services being procured for work designed by others.
I empathise with the challenges this has brought upon member firms, as client relationships have been taken away, financial pressures are causing a lowering of fees while the responsibility and risk of the work remains the same. We as an association will continue to take on these challenges for the betterment of our industry. As an industry we need to develop the mindset that the only one who decides what we charge for our services is us.
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you are yours prosperity in the new year, and happy holidays. I encourage you to take time to rest, mentally recharge and spend the treasured and limited time we have with those around us.
With Kindest Regards and Thanks,
I empathise with the challenges this has brought upon member firms, as client relationships have been taken away, financial pressures are causing a lowering of fees while the responsibility and risk of the work remains the same. We as an association will continue to take on these challenges for the betterment of our industry. As an industry we need to develop the mindset that the only one who decides what we charge for our services is us.
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you are yours prosperity in the new year, and happy holidays. I encourage you to take time to rest, mentally recharge and spend the treasured and limited time we have with those around us.
With Kindest Regards and Thanks,
Left, Calvin Hollett, President of ACEC-NL
Right, Rick Noseworthy, 2022 ACEC-NL President's Award winner
ACEC-NL 2022 Year in Review – Here’s What we accomplished!
Throughout the past year, ACEC-NL continued to speak out on several issues to create a stronger business climate for our members. We are proud of the important work we have accomplished over the past year on behalf of you, our members. Below is a snapshot of what we accomplished.
2022 AGM & Awards
Thank you to everyone that came out today for our AGM and Luncheon in June! And congratulations to the 2022 ACEC-NL President's Award winner - Rick Noseworthy, P.Eng (retired) for his contributions to the association and the consulting engineering industry.
This year in addition to the President’s award we will be presenting a Future Leaders’ award and Project award, watch for details in early 2023. We encourage you all to submit for these awards, it is important we highlight the important work our industry does in this province.
2022 Beaubien Award Presented to Rick Tiller of Tiller Engineering
The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies-Canada (ACEC) announced Richard (Rick) Tiller as the 2022 Beaubien Award recipient. This award was created in 1984 to honour Dr. James de Gaspé Beaubien who founded ACEC in 1925 – it recognizes individuals for their lifetime contributions to ACEC and achievements in the consulting engineering profession.
Rick Tiller is the CEO of Tiller Engineering Inc. and is considered one of the most experienced and respected structural engineers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Learn more about Rick and why he received this award here.
Webinars/Professional Development
January 2022 - Connected Leadership – Nicole Paquet
March 2022 – Building Climate Change Resilience – Memorial University
April 2022 – Co-Lab – CEO Adam Keating
Dec 2022 – Government Funding for Atlantic Engineering Projects – Ryan + Mentorworks
Advocacy
Speaking Out on Procurement Issues
In June 2022 representatives from ACEC-NL met with Cory Grandy, Deputy Minister to discuss our concerns with how the Department continues to procure engineering services. A follow-up meeting with Mr. Grandy is expected in the new year to continue this conservation in the hopes that changes can be made such that procurement of engineering services is weighted on technical merit and not price and that a median fee structure is implemented.
An Industry Liaison Group was formed with other industry partners including the Heavy Civil Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Architects, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association. This coming together of groups has revealed common issues that exist amongst our professions and further strengthens our position when advocating for change with government bodies.
Numerous letters have been written to various levels of government in relation relating to broad issues such as the current procurement model or specific issues relating to proposal documents that are being issued for our services that include unreasonable requests or terms and conditions.
Changes to Official Languages Act from PSPC
We have been working closely with our federal colleagues and partner associations on this issue. In late 2021, the Federal Languages Commissioner directed Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and other departments that all design and construction documents, as well as other professional services, forming part of a Request for Proposal (RFP) or tender must be provided in both official languages – regardless of the project location and demand. Further, the Languages Commissioner has directed that translated documents must be of the same professional quality. As you can imagine we have several concerns with this, however we agree with and support the fundamental principle that all firms should have the opportunity to participate in federal procurement in the official language of their choice. We aim to work with the federal government to successfully achieve this, while delivering high quality federal projects in a timely, fiscally and professionally responsible manner.
As professionals responsible for developing appropriate engineering designs to be tendered and constructed, we see several concerns with respect to this new policy. In June 2022 we sent a letter (you can read letter here) to PSPC outlining our concerns.
• Our first concern has been the lack of timely and proactive communication from the federal government. Our industry learned of the Languages Commissioner’s ruling anecdotally and then by email on May 16, 2022, that the policy had come into effect on May 13, 2022
• Our next concern, with major implications for the delivery of federal government projects, is capacity to deliver federal projects. Simply put, the capacity for industry to provide all documents for all federal projects in both official languages does not exist. Many firms will only be able to participate in a reduced number of projects and hundreds of firms will be entirely precluded from participating in federal procurements – contradicting the spirit and intent of the Official Languages Act.
• There will be significant issues with the availability of bilingual consultants and/or technical translators. The policy will put smaller and intermediate size businesses at a significant disadvantage relative to the national and international consulting firms who have bilingual expertise, capacity, and internal translation capabilities.
• Finally, there are inherent liabilities associated with having two versions of the same documents and the potential for discrepancies between French and English. With many if not most professional engineers unable to stamp design packages in both official languages, the current policy creates heightened risk that will be assumed by the consulting industry, potentially affecting our professional liability insurance and ultimately our ability to practice engineering. There will also likely be significant implications for the provincial and territorial regulators of professional engineering.
All four of our Atlantic Associations and ACEC Canada met with PSPC on August 4 and were able to clarify that these new requirements specifically apply to information and documentation that is published on the Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) website only. However, there remains much confusion within some federal departments, and they are asking for all documents in both languages which is again causing more confusion. You can read the full letter here.
ACEC-NL Economic Value & Impact Assessment Report
In May 2022 ACEC-NL issued its Economic Value and Impact assessment report which looked at the value and impact the consulting engineering industry has on the provincial economy. ACEC-NL was interested
in this project for several reasons:
1. It is important to have relevant data on our industry when meeting with government and other client groups on advocacy issues.
2. This report highlights the strength and importance of our industry to the provincial economy.
3. This report can present additional opportunities for our industry.
4. It features the specialty services the industry can provide not just in Newfoundland and Labrador but elsewhere.
You can read the full report here:
ACEC-NL 2021 Economic Value & Impact Assessment (May 2022)
The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies-Canada (ACEC) announced Richard (Rick) Tiller as the 2022 Beaubien Award recipient. This award was created in 1984 to honour Dr. James de Gaspé Beaubien who founded ACEC in 1925 – it recognizes individuals for their lifetime contributions to ACEC and achievements in the consulting engineering profession.
Rick Tiller is the CEO of Tiller Engineering Inc. and is considered one of the most experienced and respected structural engineers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Learn more about Rick and why he received this award here.
Webinars/Professional Development
January 2022 - Connected Leadership – Nicole Paquet
March 2022 – Building Climate Change Resilience – Memorial University
April 2022 – Co-Lab – CEO Adam Keating
Dec 2022 – Government Funding for Atlantic Engineering Projects – Ryan + Mentorworks
Advocacy
Speaking Out on Procurement Issues
In June 2022 representatives from ACEC-NL met with Cory Grandy, Deputy Minister to discuss our concerns with how the Department continues to procure engineering services. A follow-up meeting with Mr. Grandy is expected in the new year to continue this conservation in the hopes that changes can be made such that procurement of engineering services is weighted on technical merit and not price and that a median fee structure is implemented.
An Industry Liaison Group was formed with other industry partners including the Heavy Civil Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Architects, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association. This coming together of groups has revealed common issues that exist amongst our professions and further strengthens our position when advocating for change with government bodies.
Numerous letters have been written to various levels of government in relation relating to broad issues such as the current procurement model or specific issues relating to proposal documents that are being issued for our services that include unreasonable requests or terms and conditions.
Changes to Official Languages Act from PSPC
We have been working closely with our federal colleagues and partner associations on this issue. In late 2021, the Federal Languages Commissioner directed Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and other departments that all design and construction documents, as well as other professional services, forming part of a Request for Proposal (RFP) or tender must be provided in both official languages – regardless of the project location and demand. Further, the Languages Commissioner has directed that translated documents must be of the same professional quality. As you can imagine we have several concerns with this, however we agree with and support the fundamental principle that all firms should have the opportunity to participate in federal procurement in the official language of their choice. We aim to work with the federal government to successfully achieve this, while delivering high quality federal projects in a timely, fiscally and professionally responsible manner.
As professionals responsible for developing appropriate engineering designs to be tendered and constructed, we see several concerns with respect to this new policy. In June 2022 we sent a letter (you can read letter here) to PSPC outlining our concerns.
• Our first concern has been the lack of timely and proactive communication from the federal government. Our industry learned of the Languages Commissioner’s ruling anecdotally and then by email on May 16, 2022, that the policy had come into effect on May 13, 2022
• Our next concern, with major implications for the delivery of federal government projects, is capacity to deliver federal projects. Simply put, the capacity for industry to provide all documents for all federal projects in both official languages does not exist. Many firms will only be able to participate in a reduced number of projects and hundreds of firms will be entirely precluded from participating in federal procurements – contradicting the spirit and intent of the Official Languages Act.
• There will be significant issues with the availability of bilingual consultants and/or technical translators. The policy will put smaller and intermediate size businesses at a significant disadvantage relative to the national and international consulting firms who have bilingual expertise, capacity, and internal translation capabilities.
• Finally, there are inherent liabilities associated with having two versions of the same documents and the potential for discrepancies between French and English. With many if not most professional engineers unable to stamp design packages in both official languages, the current policy creates heightened risk that will be assumed by the consulting industry, potentially affecting our professional liability insurance and ultimately our ability to practice engineering. There will also likely be significant implications for the provincial and territorial regulators of professional engineering.
All four of our Atlantic Associations and ACEC Canada met with PSPC on August 4 and were able to clarify that these new requirements specifically apply to information and documentation that is published on the Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) website only. However, there remains much confusion within some federal departments, and they are asking for all documents in both languages which is again causing more confusion. You can read the full letter here.
ACEC-NL Economic Value & Impact Assessment Report
In May 2022 ACEC-NL issued its Economic Value and Impact assessment report which looked at the value and impact the consulting engineering industry has on the provincial economy. ACEC-NL was interested
in this project for several reasons:
1. It is important to have relevant data on our industry when meeting with government and other client groups on advocacy issues.
2. This report highlights the strength and importance of our industry to the provincial economy.
3. This report can present additional opportunities for our industry.
4. It features the specialty services the industry can provide not just in Newfoundland and Labrador but elsewhere.
You can read the full report here:
ACEC-NL 2021 Economic Value & Impact Assessment (May 2022)
New Members – We are growing!
We were pleased to welcome three new members to our association in 2022 – Parsons Engineering, All North Consultants and Englobe!
You Can Help
We are currently looking for members to participate in our Governance or Membership committees. If interested our you would like more information please send us a message at [email protected]!
THE YEAR AHEAD
We continue to advance strategic issues as well as find new advocacy initiatives impacting the business of our member firms. You can read our strategic plan here.
Looking forward to 2023
We continue to believe that the support of all firms practicing in this Province in a consistent and united business approach is in the best interest of the consulting engineering industry.
Thank you to the board of ACEC-NL:
Mark Stuckless, Past-President
Calvin Hollett, President
Steven Greeley, Vice-President
Vanessa Barry, Treasurer
Chris Newman, Secretary
Brad Dawe, ACEC-Canada Representative
Dennis Newhook
Ivan Hynes
Jason Strickland
Michael Tiller, YP Representative
Finally, we want to recognize that we are a member supported association, we want to thank all our members for their support which makes all that ACEC-NL does possible!
CONNECT WITH US:
E: [email protected]
T: 506-651-6562
@ACECNL1
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies -NL
