Fair Registration Practices Office
Public Reports
2012 – 2013 Action Plan: Manitoba Association of Architects (MAA)
Complete
In response to the Fairness Commissioner’s Recommendations, MAA proposed the following action plan as of June 2012.
1. With regard to the MAA’s assessment and registration information:
| OMFC Recommendation | Action Plan | Complete | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a. | That the MAA make clear all of its registration requirements, including any Manitoba-specific requirements; | The MAA clearly demonstrated compliance in this area, in its submission to the OMFC. The MAA is however prepared to provide additional clarity, by amending the national document entitled “Foreign Applicants Outside Canada and USA Obtaining an Architectural Licence in Canada” which appears on its website. |
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| b. | That the MAA provide more detailed, complete information about the policies surrounding the recognition of international work experience; | The MAA clearly demonstrated compliance in this area, in its submissions to the OMFC. The MAA is however prepared to provide additional clarity, by amending the national document entitled “Foreign Applicants Outside Canada and USA Obtaining an Architectural Licence in Canada” which appears on its website. |
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| c. | That the MAA update its fee information and introduce information about associated costs and a realistic estimate of the full cost and time range for the entire registration process; | The MAA clearly demonstrated compliance in this area, in its submissions to the OMFC. The MAA is however prepared to provide additional clarity, by amending the national document entitled “Foreign Applicants Outside Canada and USA Obtaining an Architectural Licence in Canada” which appears on its website. |
d. That the MAA update its “For Foreign Applicants Outside Canada and USA Obtaining An Architectural License in Canada” webpage, providing information about:
| OMFC Recommendation | Action Plan | Complete | |
|---|---|---|---|
| i. | The new BEFA program and its relationship to the triple E assessment process; | The MAA will update the document, once the BEFA Program has been officially launched. | |
| ii. | The support the MAA provides applicants by way of information sessions and internship guidance; | The MAA clearly demonstrated compliance in this area, in its submissions to the OMFC. The MAA is however prepared to provide clarity, by amending the national document entitled “Foreign Applicants Outside Canada and USA Obtaining an Architectural Licence in Canada” which appears on its website. |
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| iii. | The possibility of unregistered practice and links to MAA’s employment resources page; | A recommendation to clarify “unregistered practice opportunities” is unacceptable. The MAA is a licensing body for registered professionals. | |
| iv. | The language proficiency demands of the profession and the assessment process as well as available resources for language upgrading; | The MAA clearly demonstrated, in its submissions to the OMFC, that there are no proficiency demands for the assessment process. From an employment perspective, demands will vary, based on the projects and tasks. |
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| v. | Available financial support opportunities. | The MAA clearly demonstrated compliance in this area, in its submissions to the OMFC. The MAA is however prepared to provide additional clarity, by including a link to the government’s website, in the national document entitled “Foreign Applicants Outside Canada and USA Obtaining an Architectural Licence in Canada” which appears on its website. |
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| e. | That the MAA provide information about an applicant’s access to records and the procedure whereby records are accessed. | The process is not yet formalized. The MAA will document a formal process and make information available. |
2. The MAA contact the CACB and request:
| OMFC Recommendation | Action Plan | Complete | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a. | That a broader alternative documentation policy, beyond certified university calendars, be implemented that allows consideration of alternative documentation for any of the CACB’s documentation requirements for applicants who cannot obtain, with good reason, required documents; | The MAA adequately demonstrated, in its submissions to the OMFC, that the requirements are clearly set out and fair for all. | |
| b. | That the possibility of alternative documentation be made clear in the CACB’s certification information; | The MAA clearly demonstrated compliance in this area, in its submissions to the OMFC. | |
| c. | That the CACB make available its database of certified university calendars and not require applicants to supply this documentation if it is already present in the CACB’s database; | The MAA clearly demonstrated, in its submissions to the OMFC, that applicants need not supply documentation that is already on file and development of a database is already underway. | |
| d. | That the CACB avail itself of BEFA’s newly developed prior learning assessment tools and allow consideration for elements of academic qualification evident in an applicant’s work history; | The MAA clearly demonstrated, in its submissions to the OMFC, that the current mandate of the CACB is appropriate. The CACB is not a regulatory body for the profession. |
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| e. | That the CACB provide appeal training for its board of directors responsible for hearing appeals of academic qualification and BEFA assessments; | The MAA will forward this recommendation to the CACB. | |
| f. | That CACB assessment result letters for academic qualifications and the ExAC exam results include information about appeal policies and process; | The MAA will forward this recommendation to the CACB. | |
| g. | That CACB’s academic qualification result letters that identify gaps in qualifications make clear the reasons for its assessment. | The MAA will forward this recommendation to the CACB. | |
| 3. | That the MAA establish an appeals process for any of its registration decisions that deny registration or subject it to condition. This would include: contested internship decisions, experience review decisions, contested good character decisions and any other registration decision that results in the denial or conditioning of registration; Further, an appeal process be implemented such that: | An appeal process for registration decisions is clearly established within The Architects Act. An additional internal process is not yet formalized. The MAA will document a formal internal process and make information available. |
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| a. | A pre-appeal process is in place to allow applicants an informal, first-step opportunity to be heard; | This will be considered when the formalized internal process is documented. | |
| b. | Appeal committee members are independent of the MAA’s original decision makers; | This will of course be incorporated into the formalized internal process that is documented. | |
| c. | Appeal committee members are trained in conducting appeals; | This will be addressed when the formalized internal process is documented. | |
| d. | Appeal process provides timely hearings and appeal decisions; | This will be incorporated into the formalized internal process that is documented. | |
| e. | Detailed, written reasons are provided for unfavorable appeal decisions; | This will of course be incorporated into the formalized internal process that is documented. | |
| f. | Appeal information accompanies any assessment decision subject to appeal. | This will of course be incorporated into the formalized internal process that is documented. |
