Terms of Reference

The institute operates under a policy governance model, under which this task force is designated as a staff committee.
The purpose of this task force is to assist staff to carry out the business of the institute in accordance with strategic policies and operational constraints established by Council.
This task force assists staff by providing advice to staff on issues and questions brought by staff to their committee for consideration.
Members of this task force are appointed by, serve at the discretion of, and report to the Executive Director or her designate.
The purpose of the Task Force for Legislative Renewal is to consider and bring forward recommendations to Council and the IDIBC Board of Directors regarding the structure and administration of a new regulatory regime that will embrace all those practitioners providing architectural-design services. In particular the Task Force will consider the need for:
Full and fair integration into the regulation and administration of the AIBC
Greater clarity of roles and responsibilities;
Increased public accountability;
New legislative and regulatory models.

Composition

The Task Force shall be comprised of representatives from all membership categories, will include an LG appointee, who will represent the public interest in these discussions, and will include the AIBC Executive Director or designate.

Communications

External communications will be agreed upon by all prior to its release, and the full services of the AIBC Communications department will be available to support the task force.

Timing

The Task Force shall bring forward a final report with recommendations by the end of December 2006, and periodically as agreements are reached.

Reporting

The JTFLC shall report regularly to the AIBC Council and IDIBC Board of Directors.

Support Services

AIBC staff shall provide any required support services.

Expenses

Each delegation shall be responsible for any travel and accommodation expenses incurred by their representatives as well as any other expenses incurred for their delegation’s purposes. Other reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Task Force, as a whole, shall be split equally between AIBC and IDIBC. If unusual Task Force expenses are anticipated, they shall be approved by the Task Force in advance.

Background

BC’s built environment is increasingly designed and constructed by teams of individuals who bring a diverse range of knowledge and skill to the task of managing this service in the public interest. The increasing interest by regulatory bodies in enhanced professional reliance and the need, therefore, to bring within the regulatory system all those offering architectural / building design services is essential.

Recent court judgments have further amplified the need, in the public interest, to provide better and more comprehensive and inclusive regulation. The AIBC and the Interior Design Institute of BC (IDIBC) recognize that the existing legislative framework does not sufficiently address the need for enhanced professional reliance.

The Architects Act dates back to 1920 and, while modified over the years, it does not adequately regulate a significant portion of architectural/ building design completed in BC. Likewise, the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC Act and the Interior Design Act are only right-to-title and, while their members may practice independently provided it is outside the scope of practice regulated within the Architects Act, the designers may find themselves in a position to carry out work that is beyond the scope of the act. Equally unhelpfully, there is significant inconsistency between the Architects Act and the BC Building Code which is not at all in the public interest, and should be brought into alignment.