OACETT members have voted for change

In the 3rd quarter of 2024, a sentiment survey was distributed to all our members concerning national harmonization that would result in changing the Certified Engineering Technologist title and the possibility of a new name for the organization. The response was high, but the data was not conclusive. The Board decided to inform you, the members, about the reasons, pros and cons and present the membership with the opportunity to choose. Members were engaged at the chapter level as well as the provincial level with information and opportunities for discussion throughout the year, in particular at the ACM’s, the Fireside Chats and the AGM. On Tuesday, September 9th, OACETT leadership hosted a Fireside Chat webinar dedicated to answering member questions concerning the proposed change of the C.E.T. title to Professional Technologist (P.Tech) and the proposed change of the name of OACETT to Engineering Technology Professionals Ontario (ETPO). Over 1500 members registered for the webinar and over 900 were in attendance at the peak. Members raised hundreds of pertinent questions and those that could not be answered live had the responses posted to the website later in the week.

This process was in preparation for the Special Meeting of Members held yesterday, on Tuesday September 16. Again, over 1500 members registered, with 890 in attendance at the peak, and an additional 715 members each submitted a proxy in advance of the meeting. As part of the meeting agenda, a further open discussion period was held for final questions, and then the two motions were called. For the motion “Be it resolved that OACETT supports the change of the certification title Certified Engineering Technologist (C.E.T.) to Professional Technologist (P.Tech.), provided that all current members of Technology Professionals Canada commit to this as a common national title before the end of 2030”, there were 660 votes in favour, 627 votes opposed and 34 abstentions, which resulted in the motion being carried. For the motion “Be it resolved that the name “Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists” (OACETT) be changed to “Engineering Technology Professionals Ontario” (ETPO), there were 724 votes in favour, 534 votes opposed and 26 abstentions, which resulted in the motion being carried.

Click the following link HERE to view the scrutineer’s report which detail the voting results.

OACETT’s leadership sincerely thanks OACETT members for your active engagement in these issues. Because the timing of these changes is currently reliant on the results of decisions within a few of the other provincial organizations that are members of Technology Professionals Canada, implementation will not yet commence. We will keep OACETT members informed of the outcomes of the other provincial decisions and will share detailed plans when they are available.