By Andrea Waldie, P.Geo. Executive Director & Registrar, APGO

The mandate of the APGO is to protect the public and the environment by ensuring that all those who practice professional geoscience in Ontario, that is those who apply geoscience knowledge and principles, are licensed professional geoscientists with APGO. Licensing requires that the individual has met the knowledge and experience standards, continues to remain current through continuing professional development, and is subject to a legislated complaints and discipline process. If individuals are practicing professional geoscience without being registered, the public, the environment and the reputation of geoscientists themselves are not adequately protected.

Many individuals have recognized the necessity and legal obligation of professional registration and have already gone through the process, met the requirements, and have been granted a license. Nevertheless, there are still individuals who continue to practice who have not yet applied for licensure. For many it is a misunderstanding. Some believe that one only needs to register if signing reports; or that only one individual at a company needs to register in order to oversee others; or that because they are members in another Canadian jurisdiction or an AusIMM member that registration with APGO is not necessary. Others who are new to Ontario are not even aware that geoscience is a regulated profession in Ontario. There are also those who have just decided not to do what they are legally obligated to do; apply to register as a professional geoscientist. Without the review of a geoscientist’s credentials which are held to a published standard; without a geoscientist being held to a legislated complaints and discipline process; the public, the environment and the reputation of the profession of geoscience are not adequately protected.

To that end, a full-time Enforcement & Compliance (E & C) Coordinator, Mr. G. Smith, was hired in late 2008. The APGO’s enforcement and compliance campaign is in full swing. Non-licensed individuals holding themselves out as geoscientists or who appear to be practicing professional geoscience are sought out and contacted by mail in order to clarify their situation. A set number of letters are sent, documentation is collected and reviewed, and individuals are provided with ample opportunities to respond. Some files are closed upon clarification of the actual work being conducted; some files remain under review; some individuals apply for registration; and some files are taken to the Enforcement and Compliance Committee to determine the next appropriate steps. There are currently 503 E & C files either active or being monitored.

Locating those who are practicing illegally is not an easy process. The APGO E & C Coordinator utilizes many tools to identify individuals who may be practicing professional geoscience or who are holding themselves out to the public as geoscientists through the use of various titles (geologist, geophysicist, geoscientist, exploration manager, etc.). Due to the importance of public and environment protection and the protection of the reputation of the profession of geoscience itself, any assistance that APGO members or the public can provide in identifying unlicensed geoscientists or in encouraging those individuals to apply to APGO is much appreciated. Should you wish to report an unlicensed geoscientist, anonymously or otherwise, please send information to gsmith@apgo.net or to the attention of G. Smith, E & C Coordinator at the APGO mailing address located below.

Please help protect the public, the environment and reputation of professional geoscience by reporting illegal practice.

Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario
60 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 913
Toronto, ON M4T 1N5