Tech companies want Alberta’s premier to fight for ‘software engineer’ title

A Canadian tech company is asking Alberta’s new prime minister to step in after a regulatory group’s legal action over positions such as ‘software engineer’.

More than 30 signatories to a letter sent to Daniel Smith on Friday said the Alberta Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (APEGA) said, “Software engineers should be regulated, cumbersome and restrictive.” We take a positive position that we must comply with unnecessary certification requirements.” ”

The signatories, including executives from Helcim, Aimso and Neo Financial, see “software engineer” as the standard title for anyone building a technical program, and APEGA certifies it like a professional engineer. It argues that it should not be treated as a role requiring regulation. .

“APEGA has aggressively targeted Alberta businesses and taken legal action to restrict their use of globally competitive job titles and descriptions,” said a national tech advocate. I am reading a letter coordinated by an organization, the Canadian Council of Innovators (CCI).

The signatories point to APEGA lawsuits against technology companies that use variations on their engineer titles. They want Mr. Smith to “get rid of regulatory bureaucracy,” which is hampering his ability to attract global tech talent, they say.

CCI President Benjamin Bergen said:

“We will see companies opening offices in other jurisdictions that are actually using the correct terminology.”

He argues that this is a case of regulators “stepping over” the issue that has never been seen anywhere else in the world with this level of behavior.

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APEGA’s website states that it has “legal rights and requirements” that limit the practice and use of titles related to engineering and earth sciences to authorized individuals and companies.

In addition to traditional titles such as professional engineer, professional geologist, and professional geophysicist, the unlicensed person has a name, title, description, or letter that signifies that he/she is APEGA licensed. The word engineer cannot be used in combination with , symbols, or abbreviations. , resume or on social media.

APEGA said this is because “the public may believe that you have a right to practice engineering and geoscience” and that “this could endanger public safety.” He argues that this is because there is

In an open letter signed in July by leaders of engineering regulators from each of Canada’s provinces and territories, the use of “software engineer”, “computer engineer” and other information technology titles with the suffix of engineer It states that it is prohibited anywhere in Canada unless the person using it: Licensed by one of the regulatory groups.

Engineers Canada, a national organization of state and territory associations, also notes on its website that there is precedent on the issue. An Alberta judge issued an injunction against her unregistered APEGA person for using “software engineer” online in 2019.

A worker’s license is seen as essential to maintaining worker ethics and competence when public safety is at risk, so a worker’s license should be applied to the legal and medical fields. common in many professions, including However, it is rarely, if ever, used to regulate people in the tech sector, including workers who build apps and other software and hardware.

“Talent is the absolute most important input to future success, and the ability to attract and retain talent is critical…Thus, if regulators are creating a hostile environment for companies, We can’t stay competitive,” says Sam Pillar, CEO of Jobber.

When his Edmonton-based home service platform first heard from APEGA about using the engineering title, he says it posted a disclaimer on its website to distinguish between employees and positions APEGA regulates. . Jobber then announced that in December 2021 he would be sued by APEGA.

Piller said the matter was still in court, adding that it was time for the government to intervene. That’s because the problem is “lingering”, affecting not only large companies like Google and Apple, but also small businesses that are in greater need of talent.

Demand for digitally skilled workers in Canada will reach 193,000 by 2022 and more than 305,000 by 2023, according to a 2019 report from the Information and Communications Technology Council, a nonprofit that provides labor policy advice. predicted to reach.

The 2020 addendum describing COVID-19 projected a nearly 24% drop in demand, and in the new baseline scenario, the digital economy would experience a demand of 147,000 workers by 2022, reducing total employment to is expected to reach nearly 2 million.

A 2019 government-funded report lists software developers, data scientists and analysts, cybersecurity workers, and information technology support specialists as the most in-demand jobs.

© 2022 The Canadian Press