Les matingénieurs: the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec's workshop series on ethics and professional conduct is a success

MONTREAL, Feb. 27, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - More than 900 engineers participated in the series of breakfast conferences known as Les matingénieurs, which ended today with an event on the supervision of engineering work, an important issue for protecting the public. This four-workshop series began in October and aimed at making engineers aware of the ethical and professional conduct issues that may arise in their daily work. The first three workshops concerned professional independence, contract management and business practices.

"Les matingénieurs are one of the many information, training and prevention initiatives offered by the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec to better protect the public and provide more support to its members. The OIQ is taking action and our efforts to restore public confidence in the profession form a coherent system in which engineers are better trained and more accountable, companies are better supervised and contract providers are better equipped," explained Daniel Lebel, Eng., FEC, PMP, President of the OIQ.

The importance of supervising engineering work

The supervision of engineering work is an important issue for the profession. In the 21^st century, few products are offered to consumers without first being subjected to quality controls. Citizens and tax payers have every right to expect engineering work to be executed in accordance with the plans and specifications of designers and subjected to professional supervision by engineers.

The OIQ is seriously tackling this issue, particularly by developing a supervision practice guide. The OIQ will also make a few recommendations to the Charbonneau Commission. These recommendations will be aimed at raising awareness of key stakeholders, strengthening cooperation between designers and supervisors, and increasing checks on supervision activities.

Other ethics and professional conduct initiatives

The OIQ is also continuing to develop the range of training activities it offers on ethical issues. The OIQ's annual conference, which will be held on May 13 and 14 in Montreal, will be the next opportunity for engineers who want to be better equipped to manage these issues. Each issue of PLAN, the OIQ's magazine, also includes an ethics and professional conduct column prepared by the Office of the Syndic; the most recent issue covers the risk management responsibilities of engineers. It should be noted that all engineers also had to complete a mandatory professionalism course. Finally, engineers and the general public can always call the OIQ's 1 877 ÉTHIQUE hotline, which handles over 1,000 calls every year.

About the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec

Founded in 1920, the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec has a membership of 60,000 engineering professionals in all fields, except forest engineering. The mission of the OIQ is to ensure the protection of the public by supervising the practice of the profession within the framework of its constituent laws and ensure that the profession serves the public interest. For more information, go to http://www.oiq.qc.ca.

SOURCE: Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec

Aline Vandermeer
Communications and Public Affairs Department
Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
Tel.: [phone] or 1 800 461-6141, extension 3253