Building Better Policy A federal perspective on the role of engineers

in public policy

Alana Lavoie, M.A.Practice Lead, Public Affairs

Friday, June 5, 2015

Who Is Engineers Canada

Engineers Canada is the national organization of the provincial and territorial associations that regulate the practice of engineering in Canada and license the country's 280,000 members of the engineering profession.

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Politics and policy

• Good policy makes good politics

• Good policy development needs an informed dialogue to both identify problems and suggest solutions

• Experts add value, no matter where and how they engage

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PIEVC – A success story

• Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee Protocol (PIEVC Protocol)

• Developed with financial support from and involvement by the federal government

• Now considered a valid tool for risk assessment for public infrastructure in Canada

• Next step: policy and program integration

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Centre for Engineering and Public Policy

• Create an intellectual space that will convene engineers, regulators, academia and policy makers to have conversations that are important to engineers and Canadians.

• To create opportunities to examine, debate, and develop recommendations on engineering and public policy issues facing Canadian society.

• Builds on existing collaborative efforts and experiences.

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Call to action

• Look for opportunities to share your expertise beyond what your job affords

• Learn to communicate technical issues to non-technical people in a clear, brief and compelling way

• Think nationally and globally, act locally

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Thank youFor more information:

Alana.lavoie@engineerscanada.ca | 613.232.2474

engineerscanada.ca