ASET Technology Alberta Winter 2021 - 9

We hope to eventually see the fulfilment of the promise implicit
in the legislation, perhaps in new amendments to the
Act which we have promoted and suggested to government.
We hope also for the realization, finally, that Albertans deserve
the right to be served by those who are qualified to
do the work, and to know who is actually qualified to do it,
not limited by an artificial barrier or red tape and anti-competitive
attitude. It's time for all to recognize that the work
that technicians and technologists do is too important to the
safety, welfare and industry of this province, to be left to
people who have not been tested and found worthy.
We have proposed, and continue to reiterate the need for a
scope of practice for C.E.T.s, or alternatively a definition of
technologist practice in the Act, accompanied by exemptions
from the professional engineering scope of practice to actually
permit them to do the work implied in that. We have
never argued for an exclusive scope of practice, which would
deny others (particularly professional engineers) the ability
to do the work if they are qualified. But that is the point. Much
of that work should be practiced by professionals who have
been qualified and certified by ASET as the regulator of technology
practice, in the interest of public safety and welfare.
Ultimately, and finally, we know that thousands of uncertified,
unregulated people are performing engineering or
engineering technology work in this province. That cannot
be allowed to continue, and the bland assurance from the
regulators of professional engineering that they supervise
all such work is misrepresenting the facts, and should no
longer suffice as a convenient reason to dismiss a change
which represents a genuine matter of public interest.
One thing that seems to be left unsaid by those outside
ASET is that the profession which has developed in the last
58 years, based on solid practical engineering experience
and incredibly comprehensive and academically demanding
education at our colleges and polytechnics, deserves to
be recognized by the province in which it serves the public. If
nothing else, the dedicated, highly qualified, well-educated
members of ASET deserve to finally have that recognition.
In the past couple of years, ASET has succeeded in persuading
the member organizations of Technology Professionals
Canada to support a joint statement on rights to
practice, and the profession across the country is determined
to achieve the rights and recognition so appropriate
to the credentials and professionalism of engineering
technologists.
That's why we persist, and why
we will until this profession
is properly and appropriately
recognized and supported -
until this province reflects the
modern reality of engineering
work and the appropriate role
and responsibilities of
engineering technologists.
TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA | WINTER 2021 | 9
ASET Technology Alberta Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASET Technology Alberta Winter 2021
