At the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE), we believe that fairness, quality, and sustainability must be the cornerstones of Ontario’s engineering profession. That’s why we’ve developed a coordinated advocacy initiative focused on three pillars: Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS), Engineering Fee Guidelines, and modernized workplace protections under the Employment Standards Act (ESA).
This initiative responds directly to the issues we hear from our members, including concerns about downward pressure on fees, poor procurement practices, burnout, and a growing disconnect between the value of engineering services and compensation.
Engineering is foundational to Ontario’s economy and public safety. From infrastructure and energy to housing and climate adaptation, engineers deliver critical outcomes. But all too often, engineering services are procured based on lowest cost, not best value, leading to underpaid professionals, overrun projects, and diminished innovation.
Additionally, many engineers in Ontario remain exempt from the ESA, meaning they lack protections related to overtime, rest periods, and public holidays. In an era where mental health, hybrid work, and workplace equity are top of mind, these outdated exclusions no longer make sense.
OSPE is advocating for a policy shift that:
Implements Qualifications-Based Selection
QBS is a procurement model that prioritizes expertise, technical merit, and experience, not just cost. It’s used widely in the United States and is mandatory in Quebec for public engineering contracts. Research shows QBS leads to better project outcomes, improved safety, and reduced lifecycle costs.
Adopts OSPE’s Engineering Fee Guidelines
Our Fee Guidelines for the Engineering Profession offer realistic and competitive benchmarks that reflect project complexity, risk, and required expertise. They help ensure engineers are compensated fairly and transparently, and they enable better project planning and quality control.
Reviews Employment Standards Act Exemptions
We’re calling for a review of the ESA’s exemption of professional engineers. While we understand that engineering work often requires flexibility, removing basic protections can lead to burnout, talent loss, and inequity (especially for early-career and racialized professionals).
How We’re Advocating
We’ve built an integrated advocacy strategy to ensure these reforms are heard and acted upon:
- Pre-Budget Submission: We will include all three elements in our 2025–2026 federal and provincial budget submissions, linking them to economic resilience, project quality, and workforce retention.
- Engagement with Elected Officials: We’re requesting meetings with MPPs and MPs to raise awareness about the economic and social costs of poor procurement and inadequate workplace protections.
- Task Force Insights: Our Climate Crisis, Research & Innovation, and Sustainable Cities Task Forces are incorporating QBS and fair workplace standards into their sector-specific policy work.
- Member Mobilization: We’re encouraging engineers to share their stories. Member voices are essential to demonstrating the real-world impact of these outdated systems.
What’s Next
This initiative is about more than procurement; it’s about protecting the profession and the public. By advocating for thoughtful procurement, fair fees, and respectful working conditions, we’re building a stronger, more sustainable future for engineering in Ontario.
We’ll keep pushing. But we need you with us.
Have thoughts on your workplace experience or procurement issues? Email us at advocacy@ospe.on.ca.
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