At its 538th meeting today, Council approved a motion that allows PEO to move forward with the creation of a mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) program for its licence holders as soon as any required legislative and operational tasks have been completed. This decision, which builds on the existing, voluntary CPD program, is consistent with PEO’s continuous improvement as a modern regulator.
Council’s decision rescinds a motion from its September 25, 2015 meeting, in which Council affirmed “its intent to ask the membership to ratify in a referendum any mandatory requirement to participate in a continuing professional development competency and quality assurance program.” This preceded the introduction of PEO’s Practice Evaluation and Knowledge (PEAK) program. PEAK is currently a voluntary CPD reporting and practice profile gathering initiative for licence holders that was designed to serve as a framework for mandatory CPD following a suitable trial phase.
Establishing a mandatory CPD program supports the Action Plan Council approved in 2019 to address the recommendations from PEO’s external regulatory performance review. Repealing the referendum condition is consistent with Council’s legal obligations under the Professional Engineers Act.
Mandatory CPD, once in place, will bring PEO in line with the best practices of other regulators of professions, including other engineering regulators, which have a mandate to protect the public. It also conforms with recent recommendations from several key government-related stakeholders, including the Elliot Lake Commission of Inquiry and reports from various coroner’s inquests.
Further details on this initiative, including timing, program elements and requirements will be provided as information become available.