Saskatchewan Land Surveyors Association – President’s Message Fall 2022

Since the last edition of the Corner Post, I’ve had the opportunity to represent the SLSA at the 142nd Annual General Meeting of the Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors held in person at the Fort Garry Hotel, in Winnipeg, September 14-16th; the 53e congrès Order des Arpenteurs-Géomètres du Québec held in person at the Hotel Sheraton Laval, September 22-24th, in Laval; and the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors AGM held in person at the Delta Hotels by Marriot in Dartmouth, October 13-15th.

Although the landscapes are vastly different, the topics of discussion were not, and included the following:

Unauthorized practice and the Association’s mandate to protect the public, including memberships obligation to report unauthorized practice. In Québec, the topic revolved mostly around construction surveys, whereas in Manitoba & Nova Scotia the discussions were with respect to boundary demarcation being conducted by unlicensed parties.
The Professional Governance Act (PGA) which has already been enacted in Alberta, replacing the 40-year-old Land Surveyors Act; also enacted in BC although the Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors has not been brought under this act to date, and the possibility of PGAs and how they may affect each of our Associations in the coming years.
Resourcing & Capacity concerns with the cessation of post-secondary programs across Canada. Likely not surprising to most, many Associations are recording a downward trend in the number of licensed members, and there is not an equivalent number of candidates/ Land Surveyors in Training coming up to replace them. It’s expected that these numbers will be compounded over the next 5 years as many Professional Land Surveyors are expected to retire.

In addition to the travels noted above to our sibling Association AGMs, the SLSA council, executive committee & several of the SLSA committees have remained busy; meeting with several ministries regarding the recognition of the Common Law of Accretion in Saskatchewan, the Interpretation of SLSA Regulatory Bylaws & Authority to set standards and the Labour Mobility and Fair Registration Practices Act. Efforts will continue with respect to each of these items in the coming months, while also posting and interviewing for a Public Member, with Terry’s term ending in Feb 2023, and for an Executive Director, with Carrie’s contract ending in May 2023.

My term as President, to date, has proven to be extremely insightful & rewarding, and I look forward to what is yet to come.

I hope to catch up with many of you at the Fall Seminars being held at the Atlas Hotel in Regina this November and hope you all have a safe & wonderful winter.

Heather Bennett (née: Maloney)