Strength in numbers: Introducing ONEIA, an environmental and cleantech partner

ONEIA

Insights for this post provided by OSPE Board Director Steven Rose, P.Eng. and the Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA).

OSPE links Ontario’s engineers with a variety of stakeholders in the engineering world. Some of OSPE’s most important alliances are with other professional organizations, so that both parties can communicate and collaborate on topics of mutual interest to drive innovation and societal change.

OSPE works closely with the Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA) to contribute an engineering voice to Ontario’s environment industry and its key government representatives. Where we are aligned in our concerns, we can add a strong voice to issues of importance when they come before government and the public. Where we have differing views, we can add balance and perspective to the discussion at hand, so that decisions are made with the best information available.

Let’s delve into OSPE’s strategic partnership with ONEIA in today’s Q&A:

What does the Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA) do?

ONEIA is a non-profit association that represents the interests of the environment industry in Ontario by bringing together a diverse network of environmental technology, product and service companies; law, investment and insurance firms; institutes; universities and governments to work on common concerns, share information and explore business opportunities.

What are some key facts about Ontario’s environment industry?

According to Statistics Canada:

  • There are over 3,000 environmental companies in Ontario, employing more than 65,000 highly trained professionals
  • The industry generates annual revenues in excess of $8B and creates exports with a value of almost $1B
  • Ontario companies export environmental technologies and services to every part of the globe, including solutions for air and water pollution, solid waste, renewable energy, the management of hazardous materials and site remediation and decontamination

 How is OSPE affiliated with ONEIA?

OSPE is a member of ONEIA, and a number of ONEIA members – largely companies and their staff – are OSPE members. This facilitates a productive cross-over between these two advocacy organizations. When it comes to matters that impact the environment and the business sectors that work in environmental services and products, both OSPE and ONEIA review these issues and provide opinions to the government and the public from the perspective of their respective memberships.

What are some examples of collaborative initiatives between OSPE and ONEIA?

OSPE is represented on ONEIA’s Brownfields Policy, Excess Soils Management and Advocacy committees. OSPE also serves as a point of liaison with the professional engineering community when matters concerning Qualified Persons (QPs) are discussed within ONEIA committees.

OSPE has been working closely with ONEIA partners like the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) to prepare a survey on excess soils management practices. OSPE and ONEIA jointly presented the preliminary findings of this survey at ONEIA’s November workshop, Meeting the Soil Management Challenge.

More recently, both OSPE and ONEIA prepared coordinated responses to The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC)’s Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) posting on its proposed Excess Soil Management Policy Framework.

On May 17, OSPE will be participating ONEIA’s annual Environment and Cleantech Business and Policy Forum.

As Ontario moves to establish a cap-and-trade system and governing bodies across Canada continue to invest in green infrastructure and technology, the forum will explore how Ontario businesses can benefit.

The day-long event in Toronto will feature discussions with industry leaders, financial and investment experts, Deputy Ministers and senior government regulators and policymakers on topics such as brownfields, wastewater/storm water, waste/recycling/organics and investment and policy changes.

Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in this insightful networking opportunity. Register here.

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