ENGR 201 Study Guide - Final Guide: Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Consequentialism, Canadian Intellectual Property Office
27 Jun 2018
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Engr 201
THE PROFESSIONAL SYSTEM
Lesson 1 : What is a profession ?
Attributes of Modern Professionals
1. Intellectual skills that are acquired through a formalized system of education or training
2. The exercise of judgment on matters connected with the practice of work
3. Membership in self-governing societies
4. Their practice of work contributes directly to advance public welfare
The word "profession" has a religious origin. "To profess" one's faith.
In medieval Europe, this term broadened to members of religious order or secular guilds
(blacksmiths, cloth makers, etc.)
A guild is an organization created to maintain the rights and privileges of its members.
There were two types of guilds, merchant guilds to protect traders, and craft guilds
which were associations of people in the same profession.
Associations were given their power from kings and clergy.
Guilds regulated quality and the market, and provided services to its members.
Professionals are white collared, do salaried technical or administrative work.
Blue collared workers sell their manual labor for an hourly wage.
A professional has special knowledge, a formalized education and is a member of a
professional order. Uses judgment as part of their job.
Professional societies are self-governing.
A professional system is one that provides formal rules for the actions of professionals.
The professional society grants membership and if these rules are broken, membership
can be taken away.
The professional system is supervised by the government.
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Not all professional systems are equal. In Europe, there is a strong regulating force, but
in the USA, there is very little regulation (it is not required to be a member of a
professional order). Canada lies in the middle.
Professionals have responsibilities.
Professionals are morally responsible to do ethically correct things, socially responsible
to keep public health and safety at the top priority, and legally responsible to act within
legal boundaries.
Lesson 2: Professional systems in Quebec …
Professional system in Canada (follows the social contract model)
Unique because the work of professional associations is strengthened by the power of
a law passed by the respective provincial legislative assembly.
Closed nature of the profession In order to practice most professions in Canada, an
individual has to become a member of the corresponding professional association.
A social contract model for professional associations allow it to clearly define how
professional associations contribute to improving public good.
In a collective bargaining model, associations are groups that try to further private
interest rather than public good.
Evolution of Québec’s Professional System
History of Professions in Québec
The model of professional regulation that developed in Québec was influenced
by the countries that colonised it. (France then Britain)
Before 1970, the professional system did little to be explicitly accountable to
society (weak social contract).
“liberal professional” operated with limited oversight and was independent to
conduct their professional practice
A related aspect was the absence of a strong, legally binding code that governed
the conduct of individual professionals.
Professional Code :
law that lays down in detail how Québec’s professional system should be organized
and administered
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describes the key components of the professional system
specifies the actions of different professional orders that are part of the professional
system
creates a single law that applies to the entire professional system in the province.
-There are 46 orders of professionals in Quebec
Associations have multiple models:
o Social Contract Model: More responsibilities, less rights. Designed to further
public wellbeing.
o Collective Bargaining Model: Designed to further private interest. More rights,
less responsibilities.
Professional associations follow a social contract model. In Canada, organized at the
provincial
level.
In Canada, a member of a professional engineering order has the right to call
themselves a professional engineer.
Before 1970, professional associations were weak. After this time, things changed.
This is due to the quiet revolution 1960-1970. A move from a conservative to a
progressive
society.
In Quebec, there are 5 primary groups which manage the professional system.
oThe government of Quebec
oOffice des professions du Quebec
oQuebec Interprofessional Council
oProfessional Tribunal
o46 Professional Orders
The minister of justice (Government of Quebec) reports to the national assembly of
Quebec on the operation of the system.
The Office des Professions ensures that all orders fulfill their mission and reports to
the government.
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Document Summary
Intellectual skills that are acquired through a formalized system of education or training: the exercise of judgment on matters connected with the practice of work. Membership in self-governing societies: their practice of work contributes directly to advance public welfare. In medieval europe, this term broadened to members of religious order or secular guilds (blacksmiths, cloth makers, etc. ) A guild is an organization created to maintain the rights and privileges of its members. There were two types of guilds, merchant guilds to protect traders, and craft guilds which were associations of people in the same profession. Associations were given their power from kings and clergy. Guilds regulated quality and the market, and provided services to its members. Professionals are white collared, do salaried technical or administrative work. Blue collared workers sell their manual labor for an hourly wage. A professional has special knowledge, a formalized education and is a member of a professional order.
