Background

New Legislation for B.C. Architects

The Architects Act, the legislation that governs the profession, was introduced in 1920. Over the past 88 years, the profession and the community in which it practice have continued to evolved; the legislation has not.

Today, there are increasing concerns that the Architects Act is outdated and no longer adequately protects the public interest. These are concerns best addressed through the development and introduction of new legislation. Specifically:

The Architects Act can be challenging to interpret and apply, both legally and administratively. This is due, in part, to inconsistencies that have arisen from the many amendments over the past 80+ years. The proposed new legislation will provide much-needed clarity and readability, while addressing inconsistencies between the Architects Act and other related legislation and regulations.
The current legislation does not reflect major changes that have occurred within the architectural profession throughout the 20th Century. Proposed new legislation would be inclusive and better protect the public interest by regulating the full range of architectural practice in B.C.
Present legislation poses rigid barriers to entering the profession. Proposed new legislation will allow those who can objectively demonstrate they meet strict, competency-based standards to enter the profession. In doing so, it will also align with current free trade policies, both national and international.
Present legislation inhibits, rather than promotes, labour mobility. Proposed new legislation would allow for full labour mobility while still ensuring only qualified and competent people practice architecture.

With new legislation long overdue, the path toward legislative change took flight in 2002 when then-AIBC Council President Michael Burton-Brown, MAIBC, MAAA, SAA, MAA, OAA, FRAIC addressed the need for legislative change within the architectural profession. In so doing, an ongoing process of discussion, consultation and drafting was begun.

One notable change under the proposed new legislation, tentatively titled the Architectural Professions Act, pertains to “exceptions” - those areas of construction and design practice that fall just outside the parameters of the profession as previously defined. With a new act, they will now fall within the scope of architecture, and those who practice in these areas will be subject to the same scrutiny and standards as others in the profession.

In addition, the new legislation will be applicable to a wider range of parallel professions, including building designers, residential designers, interior designers, and architectural technologists. Not only will these professions be governed by the legislation, they will also be subject to the AIBC standards of professional conduct, practice, continuing education and regulation.

The vision is to bring about legislation to govern the built design community that is in keeping with both the modern-day professional reality and the interests of today’s public. The proposed new legislation will provide clearer guidelines regarding professional responsibilities including scopes of practice. In turn, public safety will be strengthened.

Much progress has been made since the AIBC began its legislative change initiative. It is hoped the anticipated result – functional, comprehensive, contemporary legislation – will become a reality within the next two years.

Click here to read the Rationale for New Legislation (pdf).