Spring 2012 Vol 2 | No 2

Engineering Ontario’s Infrastructure Investing in the future of our province 12

Engineering Day OSPE celebrates engineering innovations in energy 8 Advocating on Energy OSPE report calls for changes to Ontario’s energy policies 19 With Canada’s largest workforce of power linemen, Power projects 35 years of experience and extensive bonding capacity, Valard has the power to match any need people power electrical project. We offer complete engineering, procurement and construction services, plus competitive project financing. www.valard.com Transmission | Distribution | Substations | Renewables | Telecomm PUBLISHER Daniel J. Young, M.Eng., P.Eng.

EDITOR Andrea Ritter Contents

CONTRIBUTORS Maegan Baird Laura Bowman UP FRONT 18 Liz Greenland 2 Viewpoint Kristian Kennedy Greetings from your President and Mariana Kutin Morais Chair; Message from the Acting CEO Kris Light Kirk Perris 4 Newsbytes Adam Walker News and notes on OSPE and the engineering community DESIGN & PRODUCTION 8 Bailey Design Associates 8 Engineering Day Professionals, kids get “energized” Additional Photography at OSPE’s first Engineering Day, Humera Jabir celebrating engineering innovations 12 Barry Roden in the energy sector ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 20 Seizing Innovation Opportunities Marla Currie 10 Purple Power at the CN Tower in Ontario 416-223-9961, ext. 234 Students light famed structure purple Minister of State for Science and 1-886-763-1654, ext. 234 in honour of National Engineering Technology headlines OSPE Policy [email protected] Month Series discussion on innovation OSPE IS Proudly sponsored by COVER ENGINEERING INTELLIGENCE 12 Engineering Ontario’s Infrastructure 22 Insurance Fraud: Avoid Being a Victim Investing in the future of our province Top tips for protecting yourself 14 Fast Facts on the road Ontario dominates the national 24 Secondary Liability Insurance: infrastructure landscape OSPE Has You Covered 15 Ontario’s Big 10 Find answers to your questions on this The top 10 infrastructure projects valuable, complimentary coverage taking place in Ontario now for OSPE members

16 Taking Action 26 Ask the Expert: Lien Law for Engineers OSPE’s recent actions on infrastructure A primer on Ontario’s Construction Lien Act 17 Provincial Budget 2012 OSPE buoyed by continued support PROFESIONAL EDGE for infrastructure 28 Teaching Culture, Embracing Diversity ADVOCACY IN ACTION OSPE course provides valuable lessons on workplace culture, collaboration 18 OSPE Gains Support for Bill 15 Policy makers and guests gather 4950 Yonge Street, Suite 502 30 The Engineer Speaks with Confidence Toronto, ON M2N 6K1 at OSPE’s fourth MPP Reception New OSPE seminar delivers winning communication strategies [email protected] 19 Wind and the Electrical Grid www.ospe.on.ca New OSPE report calls on the 32 Coming Up Postage paid: Province to mitigate the rise Check out upcoming OSPE Publications mail 40606018 in electricity rates, greenhouse Professional Development offerings gas emissions in your area

TheVoice Spring 2012 1 VIEWPOINT

Message from Your Chair

As engineers, many of us have shared a similar experience. With support from MPPs from all parties in Ontario, When people we meet outside of our professional circle we are now working to formalize that mandate in legisla- learn we are engineers, they often respond with: So you tion. As you will see on Page 20, Bill 15: An Act Respecting build roads and bridges? As we all know, this responsibility the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers is scheduled lies only with professional engineers who are qualified in to receive Second Reading in mid-May. We thank Mr. Civil Engineering, with relevant expertise in this field. Monte Kwinter, MPP York Centre, who introduced this This frequent misconception shows us that our Private Members Bill and continues to champion Bill 15 profession is not well known. At the same time, it reveals in the Legislature. to us that elements of infrastructure are among the most By the time Bill 15 is presented for debate, my term recognizable contributions that professional engineers as your President and Chair will have come to an end. make to communities. This is one of the reasons why this It has been a great pleasure to meet so many of you at edition of The Voice is dedicated to infrastructure. engineering community events, conferences, competitions and celebrations across the province. And it has been an Reinvigorating public infrastructure is honour and privilege to represent you to decision makers, one of Ontario’s greatest policy challenges, including government, industry leaders and the public. especially in the face of a deficit. My sincere thanks to OSPE members, volunteers, staff and fellow Board members for their commitment and As you will see in the issue, OSPE has been working support over the course of a very eventful and productive closely with the Construction and Design Alliance of year. In the coming year, I will continue to serve on the Ontario and the Ministry of Infrastructure, actively OSPE Board as Past Chair. Together, we will continue to demonstrating that engineers are ready to help meet make strides on behalf of all engineers in Ontario. this challenge. We applaud the Ministry for its ongoing commitment to implementing its 10-year infrastruc- ture plan, which will create engineering jobs, boost our economy and improve the quality of life for residents. We also recognize that we, as engineers, must continue to work with the government to ensure the expertise of Alourdes Sully, ing., M.Eng. Mgmt., P.Eng. engineers is considered, not only during the implementa- President and Chair tion stage, but also at the policy table. It is also OSPE’s job to make the public aware of the contributions engineers are making to infrastructure at every level. As the advo- cate for Ontario’s engineers, this awareness-building is a substantial part of our mandate.

2 TheVoice Spring 2012 Message from the Acting CEO

As I prepare this message, OSPE is on the cusp of cel- ment formalized the relationship between OSPE and ebrating the first anniversary of the re-launch of The Voice PEO, ensuring that the two organizations would work magazine. Since we transitioned The Voice from a newslet- side by side, in a complementary fashion. ter to a quarterly magazine, we have continued to receive With this Agreement now at risk, many have asked very positive feedback from members and stakeholders. us what is to become of OSPE. One member wrote: “I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the contributions and I concluded that Our answer is very clear: We are proceeding, OSPE was doing the right thing and on the right track.” full force, with our mandate. We are still the Indeed, no opinion matters to us more than that of our advocacy and member services body for members. We are grateful for the many years of support Ontario’s engineers. we have enjoyed from the engineering community and look forward to seeing that support grow in the future. We will continue to provide the programs, products We encourage you to look at The Voice as your magazine and services engineers have come to value, including — the magazine for and about Ontario engineers. We awareness building, networking, savings programs, career welcome your feedback and your story ideas. Please keep development and learning opportunities. your letters and comments coming. Engineers, the public and government decision makers As you will see throughout this issue of The Voice, need clarity about our profession, and they need to see there is a great deal of activity at OSPE right now. We that we can conduct ourselves with professionalism. We are moving ahead on advocacy, including infrastructure, have always strived to work cooperatively with PEO, energy and Bill 15. We are introducing new professional and we will continue to do so. But we are our own orga- development offerings aimed at enhancing non-technical nization. We have a strong mandate, and we will continue skills, such as public speaking. We are continuing to pro- to fulfill it. tect engineers through offerings like our complimentary At OSPE, everything we do centres on delivering Secondary Liability coverage. And we are bringing engi- personal and professional advantages to engineers. OSPE neers together through numerous OSPE events, including is your organization. With your support, we will continue our very successful Policy Series and our first Engineering to represent the interests of engineers and engineering to Day, held in March this year. governments, industry and the public. So, what is next for OSPE? As many of you are aware, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) held a referendum of its members in November 2011, asking them to terminate the PEO/ OSPE Agreement. For more than a decade, this Agree- Daniel J. Young, M.Eng., P.Eng. Acting Chief Executive Officer

TheVoice Spring 2012 3 UP FRONT

NEWSBYTES

OSPE Chair Honoured OSPE Vice Chair Takes to the by Engineers Canada, PEO Podium at PEO York Chapter AGM OSPE is pleased to congratulate About 120 people gathered for the PEO York Chapter our Chair, Alourdes Sully, P.Eng., AGM and Licensing Ceremony. Several members who became a Fellow of Engineers of OSPE’s Board of Directors were on hand for the Canada this year. This well-deserved celebration, including OSPE Vice Chair Nadine Miller, honour was bestowed on Alourdes who took to the podium to bring greetings on behalf in recognition of her long-standing of OSPE and to congratulate all new licensees. record of service to the profession in OSPE actively seeks a number of capacities. Engineers opportunities like Canada created the Engineers these to engage Canada Fellowship in 2007 to honour with PEO Chapter individuals who have given noteworthy service to the profes- members and to sion. With this honour, engineers have the privilege of using welcome new P.Engs the “FEC” designation following their signature. Alourdes was to the profession. also recognized by Professional Engineers Ontario with a 2012 Ontario Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes individual volunteers for continuous years of commitment and dedi- cated service.

OEC Brings out Ontario’s Best and Brightest In February, OSPE was proud to once again take part in the Ontario Engineering Competition as a Sustaining Major Patron. This annual, interactive event, which took place at University of Toronto this year, brings top engineering students from all Ontario engineering schools together with leading professionals from industry and academia to explore innovative engineering ideas and applications. Members of OSPE staff and Board of Directors were on hand to judge the many creative and fascinating entries and to celebrate with the winners at the awards banquet following. OSPE congratulates all students who took part in this inspiring event.

Pictured above: Alourdes Sully with Gilles Messier from Carleton University, 1st place winner in the Communications category, and Gordon Tang, Director of the Engineering Communications Competition.

4 TheVoice Spring 2012 OSPE Director Shares Expertise with Ontario Quantity Surveyors OSPE Board member Edward Poon, P.Eng., shared his extensive experiences as a project manager, delivering a talk to the Humber Chapter of the Ontario Institute of Quantity Sur- veyors (OIQS). Quantity Surveyors specialize in the management and assessment of costs and value-for-money in construction projects. They include cost consultants, estimators, risk analysts, schedulers, project managers, construction managers, property and facility managers, project controls specialists, construction cost auditors and insurance replace- ment cost experts. Quantity Surveyors work closely with developers, construction compa- nies, government departments, architects and engineers. A total of 163 people attended, including 56 OIQS members and 107 Humber civil engineering students. “This outreach from OSPE was much appreciated by OIQS,” Mr. Poon said. “We hope to continue to foster an alliance between our two organizations and other professional associations.”

OSPE Congratulates OSPE is pleased to congratulate 2012 Order of Honour Recipients all 2012 recipients of this distinguished honour: The Order of Honour is an honorary society of Professional Companion: Engineers Ontario that recognizes professional engineers Márta Ecsedi, P.Eng., FEC and others who have rendered conspicuous service to Officer: the engineering profession. The “Member” designation Raymond Edward Linseman, MASc, P.Eng., FEC honours those who have served the engineering David C. Robinson, P.Eng., FEC profession by contributing substantially to its operation Member: or improvement in its status. The rank of “Officer” is Desmond Gomes, MSc, P.Eng., PMP, FEC bestowed upon those whose sustained leadership has (Director, OSPE Board) contributed greatly to the operation of the profession Kam S. Leong, P.Eng., FEC or improvement in its status. The rank of “Companion” is Ranee Mahalingam, M.Eng., P.Eng., O.M.C. reserved exclusively for individuals whose distinguished Gary Mahony, P.Eng., FEC service has profoundly influenced the profession. Gerard Raymond St. Denis, P.Eng., FEC

Engineering Sculpture Finds New Home at Queens In the 1970s, Gerry Granek and Jack Chisvin, principals of the ECE Group, commissioned artist Julius Damasdy to create a sculpture for their Toronto office that reflected on nature, technology and the contributions engineers have made to humanity. When ECE Group was acquired by Conestoga Rovers & Associates in 2003, the sculpture was left without a permanent home. Gunnar Heissler (pictured above), a consulting engineer and former President of the ECE Group in Toronto, made it his mission to find it one. On February 2, 2012, the sculpture was officially dedicated in the atrium of Queen’s University’s Beamish Munro Hall.

TheVoice Spring 2012 5 UP FRONT

NEWSBYTES

Set It and Forget It: New Automatic Option Makes OSPE Member Renewals Easy If you are looking for more convenience, without ever having to worry about when to renew your OSPE membership, we have the solution for you! The newly introduced auto-renewal option on the OSPE website allows members to enter a credit card number once and membership will be renewed annually, automatically. The system even provides an automatic notification to update your information before your credit card expires. Never worry again about taking time to renew or losing valuable benefits such as secondary liability coverage, an automatic benefit for all Professional and Intern members in good standing. Visit www.ospe.on.ca to learn more.

Stay Informed with OSPE NOW! Feeds Want to stay tuned to the latest OSPE news, upcoming events and great offers without clogging your inbox? OSPE’s NOW! Feeds are similar to Twitter, allowing members to conveniently receive up-to-the-minute updates without receiving additional email. Just log in at www.ospe.on.ca and get the latest OSPE news, right at your fingertips!

2012 OSPE Fee Guideline Now Available For many years, OSPE’s Fee Guideline has been a dependable resource for determining fees — and fee structures — for professional engineering services. This comprehensive Guide also provides valuable information on selecting a professional engineer, establishing the scope of services and developing professional engineering services agreements. The electronic version of our 2012 Fee Guideline is available free of charge to OSPE members, as a benefit of membership. Non-members may purchase the Guide for $50 (+ HST). Hard copies of the Guide are available for purchase upon request. Visit www.ospe.on.ca/store to find out how to get your copy.

6 TheVoice Spring 2012 Learn more and getconnectedat Learn page tohelpyouthrough theprocess. Guide isconvenientlylocatedonthe leftsideofevery where tobegin? Alinktothe website andexplore allthesitehastooffer. Notsure All OSPEmembersare encouragedtovisittheOSPE • • • • • • • to connectandinteractwithpeerscontactsonline: manyvaluablefeaturesnew siteoffers thatallowmembers events andcourses,browse jobsandjoinorrenew, the register for Besides theabilitytoaccessOSPEinformation, tothesiteonaregular basis. have returned 17,000 more visitingeachmonth.More than visitors of thesitehasskyrocketed. Since thelaunchofOSPE’snewwebsiteinJuly2011,usage New W OSPE WebsiteOffers their Twitter feedstotheirProfile.their Twitter to aFacebooknewsfeed.Memberscanalsoattach accounts. Blogpostsorforumdiscussionscanbelinked accountswiththeirOSPE link theirFacebookandTwitter Connect toFacebookandTwitter–OSPEmemberscan to chatwithanyonecurrently loggedinontheOSPEsite. Utilize LiveChat–thefeature allowsmembers professionals withintheOSPEsite. way tostayconnectedandcommunicatewithfellow sent messageseverytimetheylogon,anothergreat Send Messages–memberscanviewtheirinboxand advantage ofLiveChat. members cansendmessagestoconnectionsandtake members registered ontheOSPEsite.Onceconnected, sites, thisfeature allowsmemberstoconnect to other Create Connections–similartoothernetworking to OSPEstaff. with fellowmembers,voiceopinionsandposequestions Engage inForums–memberscanengagediscussions to Communityblogposts. members andnon-memberscanenjoyread access can create blogpostswithinGroups theybelongto; Post toGroupandCommunityBlogs in asecure environment. meeting agendas,minutesandotherrelated materials ber groups toexchangeideasonlinewhileviewing committees, board ofdirectors andotherOSPEmem Join Groups–agreat feature forOSPEtaskforces, havevisitedwww.ospe.on.ca,withapproximately ays toConnect More than108,000unique OSPE WebsiteHow-to www.ospe.on.ca. –members 65,000 visitors

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12-03-19 4:59PM UP FRONT

Professionals, kids get “energized” at Engineering Day

On March 16, OSPE was very proud to present its inaugural Engineering Day at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, showcasing and celebrating the invaluable contributions of engineering to Ontario’s competitiveness and quality of life.

Scheduled during March Break and within National Engineering Month, this full day of enlightening keynote topics, panel discussions and youth-oriented programming provided professional engineers, students and the public with opportunities to explore exciting engineering innovations in the realm of energy. “Engineers, policy makers and the public all share an interest in exploring new energy technologies, protecting our environment, creating jobs and, of course, saving money with more options and best practices,” said Alourdes Sully, P.Eng., President and Chair of OSPE. “Innovative engineering is at the core of all these initiatives. That is why we chose innovations in energy as our Engineering Day theme.” More than a dozen speakers and panelists discussed engineering advancements that stand to make Ontario a global leader in energy generation, delivery and conservation. Topics included green building practices, the benefits of geothermal energy, the myths and facts about nuclear and much more. The Chair of OSPE’s Dr. Janusz Kozinski, P.Eng., with Energy Task Force, Paul Acchione, P.Eng., provided a detailed overview of the Task Alourdes Sully, P.Eng. Force’s advocacy activities over the past year, including its recently released report on “Wind and the Electrical Grid” (see Page 22 for details). A highlight of the day was a lunchtime keynote address from Dr. Janusz Kozin- ski, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at York University, who spoke about innovations in engineering education. Dr. Kozinski focused on York’s new emphasis on educating “the Renaissance Engineer — an entrepreneurial engineer with a social conscience.” This new approach is part of an extensive expansion of York’s engineering program, which will include a new facility and “meaningful inte- gration” with York’s Schulich School of Business and Osgoode Hall Law School. Throughout the day, seminars and hands-on workshops also provided a valuable learning forum for teens and kids — the engineers of tomorrow. While professionals and the public gained insights from experts, kids learned about solar energy with TREC Education, designed and built bridges with LEGO building toys and explored simple machines with Scientists in School. “I brought my daughter with me today, and I am thrilled to see her learning without even realizing it,” said OSPE Vice Chair Nadine Miller, P.Eng. To view more photos from Engineering Day, visit www.ospe.on.ca.

OSPE’s Acting CEO, Many thanks to our generous Engineering Day sponsors: Daniel J. Young, P.Eng. greets attendees

8 TheVoice Spring 2012 Kids have fun while they learn at Engineering Day

Nadine Miller, P.Eng., with speaker Rosemary Yeremian, President, Strategic Insights Inc.

Joseph Yeremian, P.Eng., President, Thermodyne Richard Williams, Account Executive, JLT, with Engineering, with Danny Young, P.Eng. John Carlan, Managing Director, Javelin Technologies

TheVoice Spring 2012 9 UP FRONT

Purple power at the CN Tower Students light famed structure purple in honour of National Engineering Month

On March 7, OSPE was pleased to welcome students, sponsors and special guests to the CN Tower to witness the ingenuity and creativity of Ontario’s engineering students in action. Engineering student teams at 11 universities across Ontario worked together to connect one of the largest Rube Goldberg machines ever seen — a machine that lit all 553.33 metres of the CN Tower purple, a colour traditionally associated with the stamp of a professional engineer. Often built from found objects, a Rube Goldberg machine is a complex gadget that performs simple tasks in indirect, Ontario sometimes convoluted ways. These interesting and sometimes whimsical devices can be excellent tools to engineering help young people see and understand facets of engineering. students light Each portion of this particular device was built at a separate campus across the province. Some of the up Canada’s engineering teams enjoyed assistance from local high school students, many of whom were on hand at the CN Tower marvel for the big moment. Despite many kilometres of distance between the schools, each segment of the Rube Goldberg machine was connected, in sequence, via the Internet at exactly 6:30 p.m. on March 7. The final section of the machine achieved a single, simple action: It flipped a switch that illuminated the CN Tower in purple. The famed tower remained bathed in purple light the night of March 7, in celebration of National Engineering Month. The event also gave OSPE on opportunity to host a special reception thanking the valued sponsors who helped make our inaugural Engineering Day a great success (see Page 8). OSPE thanks Bombardier, Vale, Enbridge, Great West Life, Carleton University and York University for their generous support. Co-presented by OSPE and the Engineering Student Societies Council of Ontario (ESSCO), the event marked the second such celebration at the CN Tower. OSPE was very pleased to partner once again with the CN Tower, a Canadian landmark that remains one of the world’s most studied marvels of engineering.

Jonathan Hack, Strategic Technology Local high school students Portfolio, University and Government Relations, take part in the celebration Bombardier Aerospace

10 TheVoice Spring 2012 9 T H A N N U A L G O L F T O U R N A M E N T

OSPE GOLF CLASSIC

The ninth annual OSPE Golf Classic will be held at Piper’s Heath Golf Club in Hornby, Ontario on Monday, June 4th. Join us for an exciting challenge in golf you won’t soon forget! Relax, mix and mingle with Ontario engineers, politicians and industry stakeholders over golf and lunch. This year will once again feature a silent auction, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education

Enter as a single or create your own foursome by inviting your friends, clients and colleagues.

See full details and register at www.ospe.on.ca/golf

Event Details: Monday, June 4, 2012 8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start Piper’s Heath Golf Club, Hornby, Ontario (Milton) Please join us for lunch, prizes, and silent auction following the tournament.

Registration:

OSPE Members: $260 Includes golf, cart, breakfast, Guest Rate: $310 lunch and prizes. Foursome: $850 Prices subject to 13% HST.

Questions? Liz Greenland, Projects Coordinator 416-223-9961 ext. 239 [email protected]

In Support Of:

Title Sponsor: COVER STORY

Engineering Ontario’s Infrastructure Investing in the Future of our Province

By Andrea Ritter Ontario’s infrastructure is almost like the air we breathe. It’s all around us. We rely on it to function, but most of us rarely notice it. Except, of course, when it starts to break down. A major exception, however, are the countless engineers, planners, builders, construction companies and government officials immersed in the development and maintenance of Ontario’s transit, transportation, health, water, wastewater and electrical systems.

12 TheVoice Spring 2012 While safe, reliable infrastruc- Few dispute that infrastructure development is valuable. But ture is something Ontarians it is costly and can easily become a political hot potato, par- can easily take for granted, it ticularly in times of austerity. Engineers and economists alike remains one of the areas that have viewed recent decades as an “era of underinvestment” draws significant public attention in which infrastructure spending was largely focused on to the often overlooked contribu- patching holes versus building Ontario’s infrastructure stock. tions engineers and engineering make to These are among the many reasons OSPE has long daily life in our province. The general public may be in the encouraged governments, industry and the public to view dark about the myriad products, systems and services that spending on transit, transportation, hospitals, schools and simply could not function without engineering; but they electrical systems as valuable investments in Ontario’s pros- do know engineers are inextricably linked to the design and perity rather than simply big-ticket expenses. According to implementation of roads, bridges and other vital structures. a March 2010 report by The Conference Board of Canada, While structures like these loom large all around us, what Ontario sees a boost of $1.11 in real GDP for each dollar we do not see are the countless provincial policies, acts of par- of real public infrastructure spending. liament, regulations and budgetary considerations that shape Ontario’s infrastructure landscape — factors that dominate Over the past decade, OSPE has been pleased the consciousness of every engineer involved in the sector, to see the Province grow its commitments to long before designs are committed to paper. As the advocacy infrastructure investment, including the ReNew body for Ontario’s engineers, OSPE works to ensure govern- Ontario infrastructure plan, which saw $30 billion ments, industry and the public see and value the vital role invested over five years. engineers play — not only in the creation of infrastructure but also in infrastructure policy development. Following the global economic downturn in 2008, On- With engineers so immersed in virtually every aspect of tario also capitalized on federal stimulus programs to advance infrastructure planning, development and implementation key infrastructure goals in the areas of education, health care, — and so heavily influenced by the policies that govern these transit and transportation and more. activities — OSPE saw the need to create an Infrastructure The same Conference Board report reveals that infrastruc- Task Force. Besides profiling the important contributions ture investments like these helped to create or protect nearly engineers make to the infrastructure sector, the Task Force 225,000 jobs across Ontario in recent years. Moreover, these also seeks to encourage procurement of domestic technology investments endow communities with valuable assets such as and intellectual property and to monitor relevant legisla- schools, hospitals, courthouses and transit systems whose eco- tion and regulations that impact engineers. Engineers know nomic benefits extend well beyond the stimulus timeframe. their input is key to supporting safe, reliable and affordable As the recently released Drummond Report notes, “Public design and construction across Ontario. OSPE’s Task Force infrastructure, while costly, creates assets that can improve is charged with identifying opportunities to strengthen productivity (through schools, for example) and either create Ontario’s design and construction systems and to promote returns (through greater tax revenue) or offset future costs engineers as essential contributors to the formation of public (such as traffic congestion).” infrastructure policy. Public infrastructure projects are costly endeavours, to be Of course, engineers also recognize they are part of a sure. At the same time, engineers and other professionals in bigger infrastructure picture. Besides creating opportunities the design and construction industries have long recognized for engineering firms and jobs for engineers, high qual- that under-spending on infrastructure development comes ity infrastructure drives Ontario’s economy. It contributes with its own hefty price tag in terms of lost productivity significantly to wealth and productivity. When done right, it and business opportunities. As 2011 research conducted by helps to attract investment and to create a wide range of jobs. the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario Infrastructure also shapes communities and can contribute in (RCCAO) suggests “… there is a risk of public infrastructure innumerable ways to residents’ quality of life. underinvestment in Ontario that could cost the provincial That said, the province today faces a major infrastructure economy over 1% annual growth in real gross domestic deficit, which, if not addressed, will cost the economy dearly. product (GDP).”

TheVoice Spring 2012 13 COVER Fast Facts Ontario dominates the national infrastructure development landscape Each year, ReNew Canada, a maga- zine dedicated to infrastructure across In 2010, OSPE was very pleased to see the Ontario’s Canada, publishes its Top 100 Projects List Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI) take a long-range approach — a list of the nation’s largest finance-closed and to addressing this very real concern by initiating development under-construction projects, ranked by dollar value. of a new 10-year infrastructure plan. The bold plan would, This year’s list represents over $114-billion in infrastructure at long last, seek to tackle the province’s infrastructure deficit investment across the country. in ways that maximize economic prosperity and long-term • Of the projects listed, 46 are underway right here in Ontario. sustainability. OSPE’s leadership was even more encouraged to see MOI • They include a diverse array of transit expansions, engage engineers to identify challenges and develop policies hospital builds, courthouses, energy projects, water and around infrastructure planning and execution well before wastewater treatment facilities and more shovels hit the ground. • Ontario projects alone represent more than $40 billion “The benefit to Ontario’s engineering community is signifi- • nearly all transit, power and water-related projects are cant in that engineers play a major role in the planning, design fully publicly funded and construction of Ontario’s infrastructure,” said Robert • most healthcare facilities and some courthouses are Hughes, P.Eng., Office Leader at Stantec Consulting Limited utilizing a public-private partnership (P3) approach in London, Ontario and Chair of OSPE’s Infrastructure Task Force. “Quality, life-cycle costing and safety will be enhanced as a result of more stable, better planned budgets and sched- ules, as well as a better-trained and prepared workforce.” To ensure that the voice of engineers and other design and In the fall of 2010, CDAO presented a formal construction professionals would be heard effectively, OSPE proposal to Minister Chiarelli, emphasizing that joined forces with several provincial organizations within long-range planning is beneficial not only for the these sectors to form the Construction and Design Alliance stability and success of the design and construc- of Ontario (CDAO). Both independently and with CDAO, tion industry but also for the people of Ontario. OSPE met with Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli to deliver extensive recommendations on policies and priorities Besides helping to eliminate chronic peaks and troughs in for consideration within the plan. productivity and employment, a 10-year capital plan will actually yield significant cost savings, enhanced quality, more effective use of resources and improved safety. The CDAO is comprised of major construction and “Minister Chiarelli told us that our proposal offered a design organizations involved in delivering infrastructure very good road map,” said Danny Young, M.Eng., P.Eng., across Ontario. Members include: OSPE’s Acting CEO. “With $10 billion to be spent annually • association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario on infrastructure across the province, the Minister wanted to (ARIDO) see those of us on the front lines of Ontario’s construction, • Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) design and engineering sectors play an ongoing role in • mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario (MCAO) advising the government on policy decisions related to the • Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) 10-year plan. This is a very important step to ensuring that • Ontario Construction User Council (OCUC) the voice of these sectors is heard.” • Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) Among the many specific recommendations put forward • Ontario Home Builders Association (OHBA) to the Minister, CDAO advised prioritizing core infrastruc- • Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA) ture needs such as roads, public transportation, water treat- • Ontario Sewer & Watermain Construction Association ment and others that directly support economic development (OSWCA) or sustain life. Noting that sustainable funding is critical to • Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) the success of the plan, the coalition also encouraged the • residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario government to continue pursuing alternate financing and (RCCAO) procurement models that are proving effective in Ontario. • residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) Moreover, CDAO urged the Province to further develop policies that would streamline regulation, clear away costly

14 TheVoice Spring 2012 Ontario’s Big 10 The top 10 infrastructure projects taking place in Ontario now, by dollar value:

Rank Project Location Value 1. Eglinton Crosstown LRT Toronto $8.2B 2. Spadina Subway Extension Toronto $2.63B 3. Lower Mattagami Hydroelectric 70km northeast $2.6B Complex of Kapuskasing 4. Ottawa LRT Phase 1 Ottawa $2.1B 5. Oakville Hospital Oakville $2B 6. Humber River Regional Hospital Toronto $1.75B 7. Niagara Tunnel Project Niagara Falls $1.6B 8. Georgetown South Track Layout Toronto $1.5B and Grading Design Assignment 9. Windsor-Essex Parkway Project Windsor $1.4B 10. York VIVA Bus Rapid Transit Project York Region $1.4B

For more on ReNew Canada’s Top 100 biggest infrastructure projects, visit top100projects.ca.

red tape and facilitate greater coordination among all levels for Infrastructure Ontario, the provincial agency that handles of government. The group advocated that the plan include Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP), a public- benchmarks and accountability reporting, the development private partnership model that brings together private and of a central database of infrastructure assets and consideration public sector expertise to deliver projects on time and for green building practices. on budget. In June 2011, Minister Chiarelli unveiled his govern- ment’s long-awaited 10-year infrastructure plan in Ottawa. While buoyed by the ambitious long-term Titled “Building Together: Jobs and Prosperity for Ontar- thinking laid out in “Building Together,” OSPE ians,” the plan outlined a long-term strategy for investing in and its CDAO partners were not without infrastructure renewal, as well as guidelines on how infra- concerns about seeing such bold investment structure will be funded. Together with its CDAO colleagues, commitments come to fruition. OSPE was pleased to see a plan that set out priorities for funding hospitals and public transit, particularly the regional With the Government of Ontario grappling with a balloon- GO Transit system in southern Ontario; improving drinking ing budget deficit, many stakeholders feared that infrastruc- water and wastewater systems; and reconstructing highways, ture plans this grand could be in jeopardy come Budget time. roads and bridges. “We understand that the Ontario government has huge “This plan continues to build on the province’s infrastruc- fiscal challenges,” said CDAO Chair Joe Accardi. “However ture investments by providing us with a road map for the it is important to ensure that the province’s debt burden does next decade,” Minister Chiarelli said. “We know that infra- not interfere with its ability to continue to deliver the services structure is an asset worth investing in and maintaining for that Ontarians require — services that are supported by the good of everyone.” The Minister went on to acknowledge modern infrastructure.” that investing in public infrastructure, simply put, is good To help address these very real concerns, OSPE took part economic policy. “We can’t afford not to do this,” he said. in pre-Budget consultations hosted by Ontario’s Minister “It is critical for the prosperity of our province.” of Finance, Dwight Duncan — a vital opportunity to deliver Over its first three years alone, the plan allocates $35 input and advice on how the Province could effectively billion to various infrastructure projects across the province. balance the delivery of services with the need for sound While additional figures have not yet been confirmed, there is fiscal management. Among other issues, OSPE’s submission potential for investments to climb up to $90 billion over the stressed the need for continued sustainable investment in full 10-year span. The plan also pointed to an expanded role infrastructure to ensure Ontario’s economic growth.

TheVoice Spring 2012 15 COVERCOVER STORY

“OSPE encourages the Ontario government to follow- through on its commitments from the Speech from the Throne to build new roads, hospitals, schools, electrical systems and transit and to maintain and sustain them as a long-term invest- ment in Ontario’s future,” said OSPE President and Chair Taking Action Alourdes Sully, P.Eng. “Ontario must continue its dialogue OSPE’s recent actions on infrastructure with the federal government to encourage sustainable transfer payments so that Ontario’s innovation agenda and infrastruc- • OSPE forms the Infrastructure Task Force to profile ture investments can continue to contribute to the growth of the contributions of engineers to the infrastructure Canada’s economy.” sector, to encourage domestic procurement and At the same time, OSPE turned its attention to an in-depth to monitor relevant legislation and regulations review of “Building Together,” submitting its findings to Minister Chiarelli toward the end of 2011. OSPE’s submission • OSPE joins forces with the Constructions and specifically addressed four key areas of interest: Design Alliance of Ontario, a coalition of 1) Investment and Financing; 2) Policy and Regulations; provincial organizations representing the design 3) Core infrastructure Priorities; and 4) Sustainability. and construction industries, including consulting engineers, architectural and contractor Investment and Financing organizations, to provide input into the Province’s First and foremost, OSPE was pleased to see a plan that not only 10-year infrastructure plan, “Building Together” seeks to address chronic underinvestment in infrastructure but • OSPE holds a Policy Series Breakfast event on also recognizes the importance of creating a stable and predictable Public Private Partnerships (P3s), featuring a investment strategy, critical for engineers to design and implement keynote address from The Hon. Bob Chiarelli, sustainable, long-lasting infrastructure. In the coming years, the Minister of Infrastructure potential for economic uncertainty at the global, regional and local level could affect both public and private sector financing • OSPE works with Infrastructure Ontario (IO) to directly or indirectly. OSPE also cautioned that changes in the exchange perspectives on a number of issues political landscape could dampen the willingness to provide including project bundling of design and long-term funding in order to achieve short-term gains. construction projects, identified as a commitment While supporting new financing models, OSPE urged the in “Building Together” Ministry to carefully consider these approaches. For example, • OSPE delivers a formal submission to the Minister reported plans for bundling design and construction projects to of Infrastructure on “Building Together” before achieve the threshold of $50 million may be financially beneficial its release but could potentially neglect other social and wider economic impacts that would be in the interest of all Ontarians, such as • OSPE takes part in Pre-Budget consultations and limiting the ability of small companies to bid on projects. makes a formal submission to Minister of Finance urging continued commitment to infrastructure Policy and Regulations investments in the 2012 Provincial Budget, despite OSPE has long expressed particular interest in the government’s the recognized need to contain spending approach to policy and regulations, particularly in light of previ-

• OSPE’s next Policy Series event, scheduled for ous governments’ attempts to address regulatory red tape and June 2012, will focus on “Big Engineering: The duplication in an increasingly onerous regulatory environment. Opportunities and Challenges of Large-scale Since policy decisions like these affect engineers directly and Infrastructure Projects in Ontario” substantially, OSPE expressed specific support for the Ministry’s intention to meet on a quarterly basis with construction repre- sentatives and to promote Ontario’s construction sector abroad — measures that will positively impact engineers, as well as the competiveness and economic stability of engineering companies.

16 TheVoice Spring 2012 Core Infrastructure Priorities Indeed, this principle was put to the test early when the OSPE was pleased to see that the plan recognizes the need to province’s minority government presented its 2012 Budget. align public services with demographic change by providing a Following the release of the Budget in March, engineers and specific and focused roadmap for core infrastructure priorities, design and construction professionals everywhere breathed including transportation, education and innovation, health a collective sigh of relief to see the Province maintain critical care, water and other environmental resources and other key commitments. areas. OSPE called attention to the need for immediate atten- tion to transportation issues, which stand to severely hamper OSPE was very pleased that, despite a clearly economic growth in Ontario if left unresolved. OSPE also stated drive to rein in spending, the government emphasized the importance of education infrastructure, little stuck to its infrastructure investment guns, a move of which was addressed in the last round of funding initiatives. that will yield long-term benefits for all Ontarians.

Sustainability Today, the lion’s share of Canada’s large-scale public infra- By definition, the plan covers at least 10 years of infrastruc- structure development is taking place right here in Ontario, a ture development, with the understanding that new and potential boon for engineers and engineering firms in the sec- existing projects or systems are sustained beyond the decade tor and for the people of this province. But there is still much of implementation. OSPE was pleased to see the Ministry list to be accomplished to remediate years of underinvestment. “Moving Forward” objectives under each core infrastructure Committing a 10-year plan to paper — one that purposefully discussion, along with action items to sustain each type of sought to include input and advice from engineers — is a development. OSPE also cautioned that, with the massive vital initial step. OSPE applauds the substance and goals of challenges facing infrastructure in the next decade, the Minis- “Building Together.” On behalf of all engineers, OSPE looks try and all orders of government must stay the course and not forward to working with the Ministry of Infrastructure to deviate from long-term infrastructure objectives in order to ensure the plan’s successful implementation and delivery over ease political or economic pressures in the short term. the coming decade.

Provincial Budget 2012: OSPE Buoyed by Continued Support for Infrastructure “Infrastructure investments create high- $229 million over the next six years. This quality employment and support growth,” delay will not impact the Windsor-Essex the Budget states. Parkway or the 407 East Extension. OSPE is pleased that the $35 billion Of interest to engineers is that certain commitment over the next three years, Ministry of Transportation engineering as promised in the Province’s 10-year services will be brought back in-house to In March, OSPE was pleased to Infrastructure Plan, remains in place and more efficiently manage costs. To ensure see the 2012 Provincial Budget that infrastructure plans will continue more projects come in on time and on demonstrate that, despite the to focus on three critical areas — budget, the Alternative Financing and need for fiscal restraint and deficit transportation networks, hospitals and Procurement (AFP) delivery model reduction, the Government of On- post-secondary institutions. will be encouraged for a wider range of tario remains committed to moving The Province is mindful, however, of projects and sectors. forward with strategic investments the urgent need to realize savings in many OSPE continues to work with and that engineers believe will benefit the economy. OSPE was particularly areas. In the realm of infrastructure, sav- provide recommendations to the Minis- encouraged to see that funding ings will be achieved through a reduction try of Infrastructure and the Ministry of remains in place in many areas of in borrowing by more than $900 mil- Finance to ensure that the interests and infrastructure, energy and innova- lion. The Province will also delay “a small expertise of professional engineers are tion — three domains in which engi- number” of previously approved highway carefully considered when infrastructure neers have significant involvement. expansion projects, which will save policies are formulated.

TheVoice Spring 2012 17 ADVOCACY IN ACTION

OSPE Gains Support for Bill 15 at MPP Reception Policy makers and guests gather at Queen’s Park

Government policy and gourmet poutine were on the menu on March 6, as members of OSPE’s Board of Directors, Political Action Network (PAN) and staff got together with elected officials and bureaucrats MPPs Monte Kwinter, Jagmeet Singh for a casual evening of networking at OSPE’s fourth and Christine Elliott with Alourdes Sully, MPP Reception at Queen’s Park. Approximately 130 people P.Eng., and Danny Young, P.Eng. attended the reception, including 41 MPPs, 4 ministers and 19 PAN members.

The central theme of the evening was Bill 15: An Act respecting the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, which received First Reading on November 30, 2011. Introduced as a Private Member’s Bill by Monte Kwinter, MPP York Centre, Bill 15 formalizes, in legislation, the role of OSPE as the advocacy and member services body for engineers in Ontario. “The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers acts as a powerful voice for engineers,” Mr. Kwinter told guests from the podium. “The regulator, PEO, can only advocate within the framework of self-regulation. A separate and distinct body, with the freedom to dedicate itself to the full scope of advocacy and empowered by legislation, ensures that the voice of professional engineers Danny Young, P.Eng., with MPP Michael can be heard on a full spectrum of issues.” Prue, OSPE PAN volunteer Alberto Additional comments in support of Bill 15 were heard from Christine Quiroz, P.Eng., and MPP Vic Fedeli Elliott, MPP for Whitby-Oshawa and Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, who delivered greetings on behalf of the Ontario PC Party. The formal program was rounded out by Jagmeet Singh, MPP for Bramalea-Gore- Malton, who shared words of support on behalf of Ontario’s New Democrats. “The purpose of Bill 15 is to solidify, within a legislative framework, the work that OSPE has already undertaken for more than a decade,” added OSPE President and Chair Alourdes Sully, P.Eng. “Bill 15 in no way impacts the regulatory mandate or authority of PEO.” Both before and since the MPP Reception, OSPE has continued to meet one-on-one with several MPPs to promote Bill 15. The feedback to date has been very positive feedback. Whether or not Bill 15 proceeds to proclama- tion, OSPE will continue to serve the interests of Ontario’s engineers through advocacy and the provision of valued member services. Bill 15 is presently scheduled for debate in the Legislature on May 17, 2012. Many thanks to Ontario legislative intern Humera Jabir, who kindly

Alourdes Sully, P.Eng., with PEO Thou- volunteered to capture fabulous photographs of the evening. sand Islands Chapter Chair Raymond To access more photos of OSPE’s MPP Reception, along with more information Linseman, P.Eng., Attorney General about Bill 15, visit www.ospe.on.ca. John Gerretsen and OSPE volunteer Daniel Couture, P.Eng.

18 TheVoice Spring 2012 OSPE Urges Action on Wind Generation, Electrical Grid

New report calls on the Province to mitigate rise in electricity rates, greenhouse gas emissions

In March OSPE submitted to the Minister of Energy a new ity Systems Operator to eliminate severe supply-demand im- report entitled “Wind and the Electrical Grid: Mitigating the balances, as well as authorizing the Ontario Power Authority Rise in Electricity Rates and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” to meet the public’s expectations for reliability, cost and Based on findings from an independent engineering review environmental performance without ministerial directives. conducted by OSPE’s Energy Task Force, the report expresses Overall, OSPE urges that engineering principles play a concern that the present electrical grid is not well equipped significant role in all energy policy-making. to integrate a large, rapid increase in intermittent renew- “The electrical grid is a very complex engineered system able generation. Without policy changes, the report warns, that requires the application of engineering expertise to Ontario will see a significant rise in both electricity rates and optimize its technical, economic and environmental perfor- greenhouse gas emissions. The report makes a number of mance,” Mr. Acchione said. “OSPE supports the government’s recommendations to help address these threats. efforts to reduce pollution, improve sustainability and create “Ontario’s electrical grid is currently suffering from a lack green energy jobs, but sound engineering principles must be of effective integration of its generation resources and its followed to ensure our electrical grid remains reliable, safe and demand profile,” said Paul Acchione, P.Eng., Chair of OSPE’s affordable, as well as environmentally sustainable.” Energy Task Force. “After reviewing the Ministry of Energy’s OSPE’s Energy Task Force responds to the changing Supply Mix Directive and 2010 Long Term Energy Plan, energy landscape in the province with public policy advice OSPE felt that an independent review could shed light on the supporting the interests of professional engineers in the root causes of recent problems, as well as potential solutions.” sector. This Task Force advocates for a safe, reliable, envi- The independent engineering review was prompted by ronmentally responsible and affordable energy supply for concerns over growing amounts of hydraulic spill, nuclear Ontario by engaging with governments and stakeholders. shutdowns and periods of negative wholesale electricity The Task Force also examines provincial government plans prices during severe surplus base load generation periods. for the production and delivery of alternative energy and The review revealed that this situation will only grow worse identifies opportunities to partner with government on the over the coming years as significant amounts of wind, implementation of those plans. hydraulic and nuclear generation comes into services, while OSPE met with Ontario’s Energy Minister, the Hon. electrical demand is expected to remain flat. Chris Bentley, in mid-April to obtain his feedback on this The 42-page report includes 19 recommendations, nine report and to encourage him to look to OSPE as a resource of which should be acted upon as soon as possible, including when energy policy is being formulated. OSPE also discussed modifying market rules so that all significant generation the report with several deputy ministers, as well as PC energy resources including wind, solar and nuclear generation, critic Vic Fedeli and NDP energy critic Peter Tabuns. would be subject to dispatching by the Independent Electric- OSPE’s report can be accessed at: www.ospe.on.ca/windreport

TheVoice Spring 2012 19 ADVOCACY IN ACTION

Seizing Innovation Opportunities in Ontario

Minister of State for Science and Technology Headlines OSPE Policy Series Discussion on Innovation

Over 80 attendees gathered at the Toronto Board of Trade the Government of Canada’s achievements in delivering its on March 22 for the latest OSPE Policy Series event, “Seizing science and technology strategy, aimed at attracting and Innovation Opportunities in Ontario.” retaining the world’s brightest researchers, increasing invest- The morning kicked off with a keynote address from Donna ment in research and development, and commercializing Cansfield, MPP, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister promising research. of Economic Development and Innovation, who highlighted OSPE thanks all the speakers and participants who made the importance of translating research into innovation and this latest OSPE Policy Series session a great success. OSPE building great ideas into jobs. especially thanks Bombardier for generously sponsoring the “Our goal at the Ministry of Economic Development and event. Innovation is to help grow a strong, innovative economy that OSPE’s next Policy Series Breakfast will focus on “BIG provides jobs and prosperity for all Ontarians,” Ms. Cansfield Engineering: the Opportunities and Challenges of Large-scale said. “To accomplish that, we offer the programs, services Infrastructure Programming in Ontario.” The session takes and tools businesses need to innovate and compete in today’s place on June 20, 2012 at the Toronto Board of Trade. global economy.” For details on all upcoming OSPE Policy Series events, Following Ms. Cansfield’s talk, a panel featuring repre- visit www.ospe.on.ca/events. sentatives from federal and provincial funding programs discussed options available to Ontario businesses. The panel spoke about innovation programs and the need to link academia, research and entrepreneurs with industry. The next keynote was delivered by Professor David Zingg, P.Eng., from the University of Toronto Institute Of Aero- space Studies. Professor Zingg emphasized the importance of funding research and that two-way communication between academia and industry is essential for innovation to thrive. A second panel featured private sector entrepreneurs who transitioned their innovative engineering ideas into successful businesses. The panellists stressed that their success came from hard work, passion and, perhaps most important, innovation funding from government and other sources. For the final keynote address, OSPE was delighted to welcome The Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology. Minister of State Goodyear outlined

20 TheVoice Spring 2012 O S P E P O L I C Y S E R I E S

BIG ENGINEERING: The Opportunities and Challenges of Large-scale Infrastructure Projects in Ontario

Large scale infrastructure projects in Ontario represent billions of dollars of investment. What are the challenges? What are the rewards?

Using case studies from big engineering projects underway in Ontario, including public transit projects in the Greater Toronto Area, the Pan Am/Parapan Games Village development, the Niagara tunnel project and northern Ontario's “Ring of Fire,” this OSPE Policy Series Event will provide a forum for engineers to showcase expertise from big engineering projects in Ontario.

See full details and register at www.ospe.on.ca/policyseries

Event Details:

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The Toronto Board of Trade, First Canadian Place 77 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario Includes hot breakfast catered by Oliver & Bonacini.

Early Bird Tickets: (until June 8)

OSPE Members: $65 Regular $85 Non-Members: $85 Regular $105 Students: $30 Regular $50 (plus 13% HST)

Enter promotional code 12PSEB for Early Bird pricing

Questions? Maegan Baird, Government Relations Coordinator 416-223-9961 ext. 243 [email protected] ENGINEERING INTELLIGENCE

Insurance Fraud: Avoid being a victim

Staged car accidents and the subsequent filing of false insurance claims is big busi- ness across North America. In fact, 10 to 15 per cent of your premium goes towards fraudulent claims, costing Canadian insurers and policyholders $3 billion each year. Some of these criminals may be members of large organizations with multi-level operations, while others are individuals looking for a quick payout. A recent auto insurance scam in Toronto, dubbed Project Whiplash by investigators, uncovered a sophisticated operation involving a paid ring of 10 drivers and 35 accomplices who staged 77 accidents, complete with fake injuries, to bilk insurance companies of more than $4 million. Often, a staged accident is deceptively simple. A driver may wave to an oncom- You idle at an intersection ing vehicle to enter traffic. His partner, driving in the opposite lane, then “acciden- waiting for the light to turn tally” collides with the car. Emergency personnel are sometimes called to make the scene more realistic, and planted witnesses corroborate the criminal’s story. green. Without warning, When criminals cheat, we all pay higher rates. Both opportunistic fraud (exag- the vehicle in front of you geration of a legitimate claim) and deliberate fraud (a staged accident or falsification suddenly reverses, culmi- of accident benefit forms) end up costing all of us. nating in a sickening thud The good news? When you know what to look for, you can protect yourself and against your front bumper. your family — and help fellow policyholders and insurance companies win the war Guess what? You have just against insurance fraud. found yourself in the middle The Personal Insurance Company is committed to addressing insurance fraud head on and protecting our members from the physical and financial harm caused of a staged car accident, by this criminal activity. For more information, visit www.thepersonal.com or call masterminded by known 1-888-476-8737. players in insurance fraud.

TOP tips for protecting yourself against insurance fraud:

• Don’t tailgate. Leave significant space between you and phone number for all passengers, along with the driver’s the vehicles ahead in case they brake suddenly. licence information and the car’s licence plate. • be wary if someone waves you in to merge or change • if you can, photograph the car and passengers. Some lanes, as they may be setting you up for a collision. people even install a dash-mounted video camera that • Stay well into your own lane when making double-lane records a continuous loop of footage as you drive. left-hand turns to avoid being deliberately sideswiped by • keep careful records of your medical treatments, the vehicle next to you. including dates, treatments given, and diagnoses. • if you are in an accident, be wary if you are pressured or Compare your records against the statements you offered money by anyone to use a particular auto body receive to make sure the bill wasn’t padded by an shop, paralegal or medical professional. Ask your insurer unscrupulous practitioner with fabricated treatments. for a list of recommended auto body shops. • if you suspect a scam, report the details to the Insurance • if you are in a collision, count how many passengers are Bureau of Canada TIPS line at 1-877-IBC-TIPS, or the in the other car. More people may file claims than were Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre (PhoneBusters) at in the vehicle. Be sure to obtain a name, address and 1-888-495-8501.

22 TheVoice Spring 2012 M E M B E R B E N E F I T S

Your OSPE membership gives you exclusive savings on a wide range of products and services. From insurance to legal services, from travel to sporting events, and so much more, you can enjoy savings that add up to more than the cost of your OSPE membership!

See full details at www.ospe.on.ca/engineersfirst

OSPE TRAVEL CLUB

Log in at www.ospe.on.ca to take advantage of these exceptional member offers. Not a member yet? Join today to enjoy these and many other great benefits of OSPE membership. ENGINEERING INTELLIGENCE

Have questions about OSPE’s Secondary Liability Insurance Program? Find the answers here.

OSPE Has You Covered

In 2012, OSPE was very pleased to introduce an important new benefit of membership with the launch of our Secondary Liability Insurance program, which covers individual engineers. Offered through JLT Canada and underwritten by Lloyds of London, this program automatically provides all OSPE Professional, Professional 65+ and Intern members in good standing with $100,000 in professional liability coverage. Best of all, this valuable coverage is fully included in the cost of membership.

Who is covered by the OSPE Secondary Liability Program? What if I do some consulting outside of my regular job? Individuals who are members of OSPE in the Professional, An exception to the general rule above concerning consulting Professional 65+ and Intern categories all automatically services has been made for those individual employees who receive this coverage with their paid membership. The cover- have regular employment and who decide to provide consult- age remains in place as long as the member’s account remains ing services outside of their regular employment activities. The up to date. If membership lapses, so does the Secondary consulting services must be provided by the individual and not Liability coverage. in a company name. The protection provided by the program to individuals for this consulting activity is intended for small Does the program cover me if I’m employed jobs only. In order to qualify for protection by the program, with a company? the fees earned for such activity must be less than $2,000 per As an employee for a non-consulting firm or another entity, project and not more than $10,000 per calendar year. you are insured for the professional services you perform in the course of that employment. It is important that the How does the program protect an OSPE member firm is not in the business of providing those services as who is an employer or principal in a firm? separate stand alone services to others. Such services would A director, officer or sole proprietor of an entity, or any asso- be consulting services for which separate insurance should ciate or shareholder who holds more than 10% of the shares be purchased. It should also be noted the program does not of an entity or shares that include voting rights, is considered insure product exposures, including software development. a “decision maker.” Decision makers hold senior positions that involve both administrative and business duties in a firm. Does this program cover consulting engineers? This program is not meant to provide insurance protection As an employee of an engineering consulting firm, you are for those non-engineering duties. not insured under this program for the professional services Decision makers are dealt with under two distinct categories: you provide. Any liability you may incur in providing these • If you are a sole proprietor or a decision maker in a firm that services to or on behalf of your employer should be protected is engaged in providing standalone engineering consulting under conventional professional liability insurance. OSPE services, you are not insured for those services. For example, provides a Primary Professional Liability Insurance program the policy excludes claims arising out of employment to engineering consulting firms through JLT. For more obligations, decisions, practices or policies as an employer. information on this type of coverage, contact JLT at 1 877 771 6773. • If you are a decision maker in a non-consulting firm or another entity that designs and builds, installs or fabricates, you are not insured for those services, with one exception. The policy will respond in cases where you had a role in the design either directly or in a supervisory role and in which you exercised professional judgment on engineering matters embodied in the design.

24 TheVoice Spring 2012 If I change jobs, am I still covered? you should require that the firm provide continuing coverage As an employee in an engineering consulting firm or a post-retirement, as this program will not provide coverage. non-consulting firm, you are insured for the professional If the firm is no longer in operation due to cessation of services you provided to your past employer. It is important operations, bankruptcy etc. then you, the retiree, will receive to note the policy excludes claims brought by your current insurance protection once the appropriate waiting periods or previous employers. have elapsed (six months following the entry into receivership or bankruptcy, or two years following the closure and cessa- Am I still covered if the company I work for tion of operations). This is subject to the proviso that closure goes bankrupt or ceases operations? and cessation of operations was not the result of that firm or As an employee (not a decision-making employee) of an some or all of its assets being purchased by or merged into engineering firm (a consulting or non-consulting firm), you another firm. would remain insured for your professional liability in such an instance. As a decision making employee of a non-con- How do I report a claim? sulting firm you would be insured for the services described For immediate verbal notice of the claim, call the program above. As a decision-making employee of an engineering broker, JLT Canada, at 1 877 771-6773. By calling this consulting firm you will receive insurance protection once the number, you can also request a Claims Report Form. appropriate waiting periods have elapsed, which is six months following the entry into receivership or bankruptcy, or two Where can I get additional information about years following the closure and cessation of operations. This OSPE’s Secondary Liability coverage? is subject to the proviso that closure and cessation of opera- JLT has a toll free number available to answer your questions. tions was not the result of that firm or some or all of its assets Please feel free to forward any additional questions you may being purchased by or merged into another firm. have to JLT by calling 1 877 771-6773.

What happens to my coverage after I retire? CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Respectfully, please note that the above questions If you are not a decision-making employee and you remain a and answers are intended to help you understand the insurance program. qualifying OSPE member in good standing, you will retain The Master Insurance Policy contains the actual and most current terms and conditions that determine how and when the Insurance coverage your coverage even after you retire. If you are a decision applies. Therefore, nothing in this document is intended to or will override, maker, and the firm remains in operation after you retire, alter or eliminate the specific wording of that Master Policy.

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TheVoice Spring 2012 25 ENGINEERING INTELLIGENCE

ASK THE EXPERT Lien law for engineers: a primer By Laura Bowman, Barrister and Solicitor, Iler Campbell

What is a construction lien? should not be able to benefit from person for improving the property. You A lien is a right to assert rights to that added value at the contractor or cannot use a lien to claim more money another person’s property in order subcontractor’s expense. if your expenses are more than you to enforce a debt. In Ontario, lien Most liens are asserted by trades- predicted when you signed a contract. legislation provides that a person who persons who physically add materials However, if there is no contract, then supplies services or materials to an or enhance the physical building. This the value of the materials or services (as “improvement” has a lien if they are does not mean that other persons (con- determined by the court) will govern a contractor and a lien on payment sultants, architects, engineers) never the lien amount. have a lien, but it does complicate holdbacks if they are a subcontractor. When should I register a lien? the determination of whether a lien When is a lien created? exists under the definitions in Ontario In some cases you may be paid faster A lien is created automatically. If you legislation for persons who use their if you can settle the payment issue meet the criteria in the Construction Lien intellectual skills instead of brawn to without filing a lien. If you think you Act, by supplying materials or services enhance the value of property. have a lien, you should seek legal to a project that improves a piece of Engineers will usually need legal advice regarding whether to register it property, then you already have a lien. advice to determine if the work they if you do not get paid for your work. However, liens expire if they are not did on a project entitles them to a lien. Depending on the stage the contract registered (preserved) and if after regis- The validity of a lien asserted by an is in, your lien may expire after only tration no action is brought against the engineer may have to go to trial for the about six weeks if it is not registered. owner and/or contractor (perfection). court to decide on the facts. If your You should be aware that the legal work can be clearly linked to actual ability of the other parties to pay you is Who is entitled to a lien? property enhancements, it is more restricted once you give notice of lien A person must meet the criteria for likely that you have a lien. If you did registration. This makes settlement of having supplied materials or services to not do any on-site work, or if the con- your payment claim challenging. As a physical improvement under Ontario sulting work you did was never acted soon as you give notice of lien registra- legislation to be entitled to, or have upon (for example the building you did tion, you need to be prepared to take a lien. Whether you meet the criteria engineering work on was not built), it the matter to court. depends on the work you did. The is less likely that a lien would arise. Laura Bowman is a lawyer who practices purpose of lien legislation is to protect in construction, municipal, environmen- How much can I claim in a lien? tradespersons who added identifiable tal, administrative and other areas of law, value to the building or structure they The amount that you can claim will servicing southern Ontario. Laura can be “improved.” The idea is that if you depend on the price in the contract, reached at [email protected]. add value to a property, the owner if there is one. The value of a lien is the value of the amount owing to the

26 TheVoice Spring 2012 A V A I L A B L E I N T H E O S P E O N L I N E S T O R E

GET THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO SET YOUR FEES

T H E 2 0 1 2 O S P E F E E G U I D E L I N E I S N O W A V A I L A B L E

If you provide engineering services to clients, you need up-to-date information on setting your fees. The 2012 OSPE Fee Guideline for Engineering Services is a valuable resource for engineers and for clients seeking to procure engineering services.

Order yours today at www.ospe.on.ca/store

The 2012 OSPE Fee Guideline gives you the latest information on:

·Current rates for a range of engineering services ·Options for establishing a fee structure ·Guidance on establishing the scope of services ·Information on developing professional engineering service agreements ·Tips for selecting a professional engineer

As a benefit of membership, OSPE members can download the 2012 OSPE Fee Guideline free of charge. Non-members can purchase the download for just $50 plus HST. Hard copies are also available for members and non-members to purchase.

To find out how to obtain your copy of the 2012 OSPE Fee Guideline for Professional Engineering Services, visit www.ospe.on.ca/store. PROFESSIONAL EDGE

Teaching Culture, Embracing Diversity OSPE course provides valuable lessons on workplace culture, collaboration By Kirk Perris, PhD

In an engineering course, the topic of culture, broadly defined, tion Skills Preparation course. Apportioning most curricular could seem incongruent with curricular objectives. In OSPE’s content to law, ethics and work safety requires a steep learn- Examination Skills Preparation course for Internationally ing curve and, like the immigration process, re-emphasizes to Trained Engineers (ITEs), however, discussions on Canadian ITEs the tightly regulated nature of engineering in Canada. workplace culture have proven highly valuable in bridging At the same time, within this climate of regulation lies the learners’ past experiences to new opportunities in their adopted aforementioned paradox of informal office interactions, creat- country. This area of focus has also proven helpful in creating ing opportunities to address where soft skills are relevant to a good balance between the acquisition of the hard and soft the PPE. Test questions can, for instance, address the unspeci- skills needed for work in the Canadian context. fied division of labour in the workplace and the casual yet Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and respectful demeanor exhibited between colleagues and staff. Immigration, OSPE’s ten-week course aims to prepare ITEs for the Professional Practice Exam (PPE) — an essential part A clear objective of the instructors is to have of the licensure requirements to obtain the P.Eng designa- the ITEs share their experiences within Canada tion in Ontario. Now in its third year, the Examination Skills and abroad. Preparation course has accommodated nearly 200 partici- pants who have originated from South America, Eastern The acquisition of soft skills for engineers has been topical in Europe, the Middle East, South and East Asia and Australia. The Voice, but it is important to look beyond strictly interper- sonal skills to understanding and embracing cultural diversity With such diversity among students, the course — lessons that are pertinent to all engineers, not just those instructors draw on learners’ personal and trained abroad. professional experiences, revealing a range As ITEs work towards integrating effectively into the of differences and also commonalities. Canadian workplace, all engineers should realize that ITEs can offer a wealth of knowledge, international exposure and And no topic is more common than the immigrant experi- valuable overseas networks. In this regard, the soft skills ence. The course curriculum offers teaching moments that worth learning, particularly in relation to culture, should are rich and pertinent to prepare the ITEs to write the PPE not be confined to a particular course, but rather part of a and to acquire more knowledge relevant to their professional larger conversation from which locally trained engineers and settings. It also presents an opportunity to learn more about employers have just as much to gain. Canada, its multiculturalism and their place within it. Kirk Perris is a Toronto-based educational researcher who Learning about common law flows, for example, towards has taught OSPE’s Examination Skills Course since September the politics of Quebec, which differs from other Canadian 2011. For more information on OSPE’s courses for ITEs, visit jurisdictions by adhering to a civil code. Discussions on taxes www.ospe.on.ca. for corporations and personal income lead to conversations about equity, affirmative action and the relevance of identify- ing as a visible minority on government and other forms. In talking about workplace settings, stories are shared on the nuances of email and some of the paradoxes of Canadian professional environments, which can be highly regulated yet still function within a relatively casual office culture. Of course, the hard skills required by the engineering profession in Ontario are reflected throughout the Examina-

28 TheVoice Spring 2012 PuT yOur EnginEEring C arEEr On ThE faST TraCk TO S u CCESS

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) is committed to helping inTErnaTiOnally TrainEd EnginEErS jump-start a career in Canada.

Bridging Programs to assist with Engineering Employment and licensure – Professional development Courses – Online Career Services and Job Postings

Learn more today at www.ospe.on.ca

Funded by:

Ontario receives support for some skills training programs from the Government of Canada PROFESSIONAL EDGE

The Engineer Speaks with Confidence New OSPE seminar delivers winning communication strategies

Like so many of us, you have Whether you are a department head, a member of the project team or part of the likely found yourself in this sales force, optimizing your communication skills can make all the difference when situation before. You have a it comes to being heard and gaining the confidence of your target audience. That is great idea you know will ben- why OSPE has enhanced its Professional Development roster with “The Engineer Speaks with Confidence,” a new two-day seminar specially designed to help efit your team, your company engineers communicate their ideas more effectively, with maximum impact. or your client. But you need During this interactive, information-packed seminar, engineers learn how to to “sell” your proposal to the present to any audience, large or small, in a clear, compelling manner that gets right decision makers in order results. If you manage a team, deliver technical information to non-technical to gain buy-in. So how do audiences or communicate with clients or stakeholders, this seminar will help you get your message across you perfect the perfect the presentation skills you have and develop new ones and really promote your ideas to enhance your personal and professional performance. Limited to 20 participants per session, “The Engineer Speaks with Confidence” effectively, especially when includes videotaping and feedback, allowing participating engineers to put their presenting to those who learning into practice and gain real-time coaching. Most important, the seminar don’t “speak the language” content is tailored exclusively to the needs of engineers. of engineering? To register for “The Engineer Speaks with Confidence,” or for more information OSPE has your solution. about OSPE courses for engineers, visit www.ospe.on.ca/pd.

About the instructor This seminar can benefit all engineers who: • how voice impacts your message Melanie Novis is • Present to groups, large or small, in • mastering the question and answer period an award-win- both formal and informal settings • The great communicators ning educator • need to influence and engage Participating engineers learn how to: and the author stakeholders or project teams • increase professional effectiveness of Canadian • Want their ideas/plans implemented through improved public speaking skills Public Speaking. In her role as • are in a business development role • Present in a relaxed, engaging and president of Corporate Speech The interactive sessions cover: professional manner Consultants, Melanie specializes in • Critical success factors of presentation • Speak with clarity and authority assisting professionals, academics • how to convey a message clearly • Structure and deliver a compelling and business executives to present and confidently and persuasive message themselves and their ideas with • Planning and structuring your message • incorporate non-verbal optimal effectiveness. Her clients • Persuasive, informative and impromptu communication effectively include KPMG, HOOPP, University speaking • Deliver technical information in of Toronto, Royal Bank of Canada, • body language and non-verbal a clear, accessible manner Ontario Ministry of Health and communication • Communicate formally or informally with Long-Term Care, Eli Lilly, CICA, • Strategies to reduce presentation anxiety external and internal clients, in one-on- CMA, Bell and Rogers Commu- • using visual aids with impact one situations, with peers and the public nications. For further information, visit: www.corporatespeechcon- sultants.com.

30 TheVoice Fall 2011 Build a

career WiTh

Advising professional services firms Mccoy Trailers is involved in The ManufacTuring and sale of cusToM heavy- on management and strategy to duTy Trailers largely used in The oil and gas indusTry for pressure puMping, rig support profitability, expansion, TransporTaTion and heavy haul. iT is focused on serving oil and gas clienTs operaTing in succession, acquisitions and mergers. The WesTern canadian sediMenTary Basin and The uniTed sTaTes as Well as Through exporT To china, ausTralia and The Middle easT. iT also includes producT offerings in Wind energy and infrasTrucTure TransporTaTion MarkeTs.

Bob Radchuck, P.Eng., FCA, CMC, ICD.D Murray Glow, MBA, FCMC Michael Schlesinger, MIR-HR www.psfconsult.ca [email protected] GO TO www.mccOyGlObal.cOm/careers

TrailersAdOntarioEngineering2012.indd 1 3/22/2012 9:43:48 AM COMING UP

Professional Development: OSPE Offers Lifelong Learning for Engineers

From technical courses to professional practice exam preparation; from sales and management to effective communication, OSPE offers a wide variety of courses, programs, and workshops to expand your knowledge and skills — all with preferred pricing for OSPE members. Following is a snapshot of upcoming OSPE professional development opportunities. To view our full roster of courses and to register quickly and securely online, visit www.ospe.on.ca/pd.

Ontario Centres of Excellence Fundamentals of Professional Art of Management Discovery Conference Sales & Selling & Spectacular Leadership May 14, Toronto May 22 - 25, Mississauga June 13, Toronto

Comprehensive Review Fundamentals of Project Business Writing and Grammar of Culvert, Open Channel Management - OSPE June 18, St. Catharines and Storm Sewer Design May 24, Toronto June 21, Ottawa May 14, Ottawa 2012 Ontario Building Arc Flash Application, Protection Moving Into Management Code Workshop and Mitigation Based on CSA Z462 - - Overview May 25, Kitchener 2008 and 2012 May 15, Toronto June 18, Mississauga Ensuring Compliance The Engineer Speaks with the Building Code Getting Your Point Across With Confidence June 4, Mississauga - Essential Communications May 16 - 17, Toronto for Engineers Sales Management Essentials June 18, Toronto Examination Skills Preparation for June 4, Mississauga Internationally Trained Engineers Structural Design of Traffic Signal Design and Operation May 16 - July 18, Toronto Industrial Buildings June 4, Mississauga June 20, Mississauga Marketing Essentials Power System Fundamentals May 17 - 18, Markham Management and Leadership for Non-Electrical Professionals for a Technical World June 11, Mississauga June 20, Toronto

Planning, Design and Rehabilitation of Bridges For All Your Investment Needs June 25, Mississauga Fundamentals of Professional Sales & Selling Peter G. Vondracek, July 10 -13, Toronto Investment Advisor 100 Simcoe Street, Suite 200, Master of Negotiation Toronto, ON M5H 3G2 July 12, Toronto

416 594-8904 Management Essentials [email protected] July 16 - 20, Toronto

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