Election Platform
Maj.
(ret'd) Corneliu E. Chisu, CD, M.Eng., PMSC, CET, FEC, P.
Eng., MP
Member of the House of Commons, Pickering-Scarborough East riding (2011 - present)
Dear fellow engineers,
As a military engineer with distinguished service in Afghanistan, a proud professional engineer, and now a legislator in the House of Commons, I cherish my profession and obligations to society. I am running for the office of the President-elect because I believe strongly that we, the engineers, have a fundamental role in strengthening Canada's economy through our expertise and our high standards in protecting the public.Engineers must be better recognized for their outstanding skills and contributions to our country. Engineering work is an important contributor to our nation's wealth and a decisive factor in maintaining Canada as the best place on earth to live.
Beside my work as parliamentarian in service to my constituents and all Canadians, I feel a strong obligation to my engineering profession. To my way of thinking, volunteering for my profession is both an honour and an obligation. I have always made time for my profession through volunteering, even when I was deployed overseas in service to Canada, as well as during time spent in public and private service.
I can assure you that I am dedicated to the profession, and I firmly believe that we can protect the public interest and best serve our members only if our licence is meaningful and has a recognizable value.
Engineers also have a duty to society to be more involved in public policy related to engineering issues and expertise. Engineers need to make sure that their expertise is not overlooked in important decisions that shape the future of our country.
More than ever before, our profession needs wise leadership and strong member involvement. It is necessary to take action now, before our profession as it is presently perceived becomes irrelevant to society in the fundamental decision-making process.
PEO Council needs to:
- Promote sound, visionary leadership by consensus to ensure PEO's policies reflect its legislated mandate;
- Establish, through a well thought-out governance model, a mechanism that will allow members to participate more actively in the self-governing of our profession in order to assure a healthy balance between protecting the public interest and the profession itself;
- Assure its members better access to the long term strategic planning of the evolution of our profession. PEO's Annual General Meeting (AGM) should be a forum for healthy debate, where motions put forward by members are given the appropriate consideration and weight in the PEO policy making/review process;
- Be proactive in sensing the needs and concerns of the public relating to engineering matters in order to handle issues such safe drinking water, reliable energy sources and protection of the environment in line with the expectations of our society; and
- Continue to assure public protection through strengthened enforcement legislation, so that only licensed engineers undertake engineering work.
PEO Council and staff must work as a team:
- Appreciate the contribution that members can bring in establishing policy. Members' voice must be taken into consideration in the Governance of our profession. Radical changes such as the election of the President must be carefully considered in close consultation with our members. Members must feel comfortable raising issues with Council. It is necessary to hold more town hall meetings in order to engage members;
- Realize that our society is evolving and that the Professional Engineers Act 1984 is becoming outdated. A fundamental review will soon be necessary in order to raise our standards and maintain a leadership role in the establishment of a strong Canadian engineer licensure model, the success of which will ultimately be judged by the public;
- Consult and listen more to members before deciding on issues related to fee increases and unbridled spending outside the regulatory scope of the profession;
- Be fully accountable to members on the spending of members' equity and should conduct their affairs within balanced and defensible budgets. All major expenses and hiring of new senior staff should be made in accordance with a well thought-out, long-term plan, to avoid steep and unjustifiably high rates of annual members' fee increases; and
- Establish a clear strategy for involving engineering students of Ontario's universities and the EIT's in the association's regulatory framework through the chapter system.
If you elect me as President-elect, I will strive to:
- Establish a climate of fiscal restraint and responsibility;
- Involve members more, in our self-regulating profession through proactive government relations and the definition of areas of practice;
- Enhance public protection through strengthened legislation and enforcement, such that only licensed engineers undertake engineering work;
- Develop a licensure model that captures the interests of all applicants to PEO and provides effective value at each stage of the licensing process;
- Embrace emerging disciplines; and
- Foster an effective and constructive relationship with OSPE, our sister Associations and Engineers Canada towards best serving the profession in a climate of financial responsibility.
I plan to work closely with you to strengthen the roles and responsibilities of PEO chapters, committees and task forces in policy development and succession planning. With your support, we will achieve a real transformation in engineering regulation to maintain an accurate public perception of our profession.
Respect for members, the profession and the Association!
I respect and cherish your vote!
J'ai le plus profond respect pour votre vote!
Visit my parliamentary website: http://corneliuchisu.ca
Or email me at: corneliuchisu@rogers.com
