The Voice - Summer 2021 - 9

ADVOCACY IN ACTION
As the official voice of the engineering
profession, OSPE's role is to represent
engineers and push the government
to make the right decisions based
on evidence. You have the extensive
knowledge and expertise to develop
solutions to the problems facing our
province, our country and our world.
profession, OSPE's role is to represent engineers and
push the government to make the right decisions based on
evidence. You have the extensive knowledge and expertise
to develop solutions to the problems facing our province, our
country and our world.
As the advocacy body for the engineering profession,
OSPE needs your involvement and perspective. We are
here to amplify your voice, so the decisions made today will
benefit future generations.
What does " advocacy " actually mean?
At OSPE, advocacy for the engineering profession means
constantly reminding government, industry, media and
the public that engineers are critical to the success of all
aspects of Ontario's economy and public welfare. As the
only independent membership organization that represents
the entire engineering community, including engineers,
graduates and students, OSPE offers a platform for members
to provide their leadership and influence for a better future
for themselves, their organizations and society at large.
OSPE focuses on several key policy areas to truly instill
in Ontarians that without engineers, Ontario wouldn't work.
Step 1: Identifying the issue
How do engineers determine which issues should
take priority?
The advocacy process is one that requires thoughtful
reasoning, strategic direction and critical analysis. Before
moving forward with any issue, these skills are put into
practice by OSPE's five Task Forces and Committees made
up of engineers who are subject matter experts in their field.
OSPE's engineering community determines which issues
are important through:
* Task Forces & Committees, as mentioned, made up of
OSPE members focused on Diversity & Inclusion, Energy,
Environment, Infrastructure, and Research & Innovation
* Broad based consultation with members through OSPE's
annual membership survey, needs assessments, online
questionnaires, social media polls, OSPE events, etc.
* OSPE members who serve on the Board of Directors and
provide strategic direction for the association
* Direct invitations to special stakeholder and government
consultations where the engineering profession's needs &
societal benefits are determined and shared
For an issue to move forward in the advocacy process, it
must satisfy certain requirements:
* It must be consistent with OSPE's vision, mission, values
and strategic pillars set forward by OSPE's Board of
Directors through its Strategic Plan
* It must be an important issue to OSPE members and
the engineering community as a whole (professional
engineers, engineering graduates, and/or engineering
students)
* OSPE, through its advocacy process, must be able to affect
a positive outcome for engineers and/or society
OSPE is a non-partisan association, and hence our goal,
independent of the government in power, is to affect
change and push politicians to make sound, evidence-based
decisions. The trust that OSPE has nurtured with all levels
of governments is based on this fundamental practice.
If the issue is properly aligned with these three
requirements, then we further analyze whether the
advocacy team moves forward with the problem
at hand. This requires examining the following
aspects:
* Is there a clear cost-benefit for members, potential
members, and society in general?
* Is it worth the opportunity cost versus other priorities that
OSPE is already committed to?
If we answer yes to these questions, then we move forward
to step 2.
Step 2: Researching and clarifying the issue
OSPE conducts economic and sectoral research, labour
market analysis and government policy evaluations
through external research service providers, OSPE's Senior
June 2021 THE VOICE
9
The Voice - Summer 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Voice - Summer 2021
