Hi Marcel,
As to licencing and why I would welcome it? That is because I do not feel our provincial and national bodies have administered, or self regulated/governed properly over the last decade or more. We as a profession have not been served by any body that has taken or promoted the profession to the public.
Self regulation has also been a failure as far as accountability to the public and members. With no outside oversite of activities there is abuse of the systems or no checks and balances. Financial information that should be forth coming is stiffled.
Professional self regulating bodies should not be offering draws for trips to clients. The governing bodies of other self regulating bodies do not conduct enducements to the public.
As the Canadian bodies are registered as non-profit corporations none of the money goes back into membership benefits.
Because the Canadian bodies are registered as corporations without share capital the members hold no financial interest in the body. This leads to apathy within the membership, there is no incentive for the members to do away with bad governance, and or bad management of the assets built up over the years by the membership paying dues.
There is also a huge concern about conflicts of interest and the manner in which a few large inspection companies have managed to put their personal marks on the profession in Canada without so much as any scrutiny of the members, and what concerns are raised are quickly buried or the directors decline to reply or comment.
As a Canadian inspector one must ask, what have the associations done for members, and what will they do for members other then feather their own nests of self interests. Unfortunately over a decade of self indulgence and ignorance at the top has result in negligence committed by a few and who have done nothing for the overall benefit of all members.
Licencing as much as it is hated by some is the only answer, old habits die hard, and if the governing bodies aren’t prepared to assure openess and accountability to the public and the members then there is no other choice at least in Ontario, and Canada.
Please note that when I speak of professional self governing bodies in Canada I am not referring to Nachi, but the long established Canadian bodies of record, who have appointed themselves as the self regulating bodies.
Time for change to ensure the longevity of the profession and the fostering of accountability of the profession. The sooner the better. No one to blame but the membership for keeping thier collective heads in the sand.
Aren’t you glad you asked?
Regards,