The magnitude of issues…

The magnitude of issues raised in this proposal/study seems to be in response to both stakeholder concern as well as an attempt to address the multitude of services and functions required of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The creation of a DAA to address the issues proposed will download a number of services from the Ministry, but there are a large portion that should not be downloaded.

There are a myriad of issues raised in the research paper, from; exam results, workforce availability, stakeholder concerns with delays, professional review/oversight/approvals, transparency, support systems, consistency, continuing education, public registry and disciplinary actions to name a few.

The information provided to date does not show how the creation of a DAA will address these issues, nor does it address the issue of public and practitioner knowledge of the application process and confusion around delays related to applicable law.

While I do believe the service provided by the Ministry has reduced over the years, and there is a need for consultation, interpretation, etc. I also believe the Ministry is still an appropriate body to govern larger aspects such as: administration, exams, interpretation, dispute resolution. I do believe that an association to administer: qualifications, disciplinary actions, complaints is a potential means to address these items as the OAA and PEO have currently established.

The need for a skilled and educated workforce of building inspectors and designers is undeniable. The current state of the BCIN qualification is not proving to verify competency. Additional education prerequisites/experience requirements should be mandated as a part of the BCIN qualification process. In doing this the quality of applications should improve and reduce the strain on building departments thereby reducing the stakeholder concern.

Continuing education is absolutely a concern amongst building officials and designers. At current, there is no requirement for either of the above to maintain a current knowledge base. Again this could be addressed through an organization similar to the OAA or PEO. As well, the previous noted organizations have policies and procedures to address complaints, incompetence and disciplinary proceedings. These are items that need to be addressed for designers and building officials alike.

Lastly, exam success rates, education is key. Exams do not need to be made easier or longer. questions can be written in a more concise way, trickery is not required. But creating an "easier" exam will not result in better services for the consumer or industry. The creation of a program for building officials is intriguing, and identifying a career as a building official to young adults is critical to the production of skilled, knowledgeable inspectors. Again reducing the burden on building departments and relieving the stress on the private stakeholders.