Dear Members,  
 
In response to the numerous comments you sent us (for which we thank you), you will find below answers to the questions most frequently asked about the end of the exclusivity agreement between the OIQ and the RéseauIQ.  
 
We look forward to hearing your opinions on this issue. 
 
RéseauIQ 

 
• What is the reason for the RéseauIQ and how has its mission evolved?

The RéseauIQ is the only group that promotes the socio-economic interests of engineers.  To put it frankly, its mission is to serve the common interests of engineers with respect to commercial services, career and training services and representations to the public.

A bit of history:
In 2002, wishing to refocus on its primary mandate of protecting the public, the OIQ endowed the Corporation de services des ingénieurs du Québec (also known as SERVIQ) with service offerings in exchange for royalties. Its mission at that time read as follows: “Offer engineers a range of advantageous services, promoting their socio-economic interests” (2002-2003 SERVIQ Report). 

Starting in 2004, taking a broader view of “services to engineers,” it was decided to expand the mission to include the expression of the views of engineers, resulting in the creation of the RéseauIQ we know today. In 2006, the RéseauIQ specified its mission as “serving the shared mutual interests of all engineers” in order to give engineers one voice with which to participate in and contribute positively to discussions of subjects of vital interest to Québec society.

This expansion of its mission responded to a very real desire of its members and has done so from its founding, as its charter indicates:
http://www.reseauiq.qc.ca/en/reseau/corporate_documents.html.

For more details:
http://www.reseauiq.qc.ca/en/debate/news/evolution.html

 
• What is the origin of the agreement between the RéseauIQ and the OIQ?

The RéseauIQ is the Service Corporation of Québec Engineers, a not-for-profit organization.  In this capacity, it is independent of the OIQ and does not collect any dues.  The RéseauIQ was born from the desire of the OIQ to refocus on its primary mission – protection of the public – and respond to the fundamental need to improve the services offered to engineers.  Since then, the offering has been substantially improved, to include services linked to training and career development and a large platform of some 37 commercial services.

Indeed, this has been done so well that at the start of the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the OIQ and the RéseauIQ renewed their agreement, giving the RéseauIQ exclusivity of services in exchange for $1.7 million, to be paid between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2010.

 
• Yes, the agreement between the RéseauIQ and the OIQ could have been renewed!

Contrary to what Ms. Cohen claims in the March 17 special letter sent by the OIQ to members, nothing prevented that agreement from being renewed, even if it had no provision for automatic renewal.  Instead, in June 2009, the OIQ decided instead to launch an RFP for banking services and car and home insurance. The RéseauIQ submitted a proposal but the OIQ decided to go in a different direction rather than renew our agreement.

The agreement between the OIQ and the RéseauIQ ends on March 31, 2010. From that day on, the RéseauIQ will be entirely independent and thus no longer required to pay the OIQ to offer services to engineers and members of the Student Section. This means that the RéseauIQ will now have an additional $600,000 per year (the amount paid annually to the OIQ since 2008, which must certainly have contributed to reducing or freezing the dues paid by engineers, for example) to use for developing services for engineers.

It is sad, as some have said, that the synergy is gone and that the OIQ now treats the RéseauIQ as just another supplier, giving no further consideration to what this means for engineers.

We invite you to read the historical summary of the agreement between the OIQ and the RéseauIQ: http://www.reseauiq.qc.ca/en/debate/news/decision.html

 
• How does the RéseauIQ finance itself?

Financially independent of the OIQ, the RéseauIQ does not ask engineers to pay to become members and benefit from its services.

The RéseauIQ is able to offer services to engineers thanks to the royalties paid by its partners from the purchase of services and from advertising and training revenues.  The RéseauIQ has no other source of funds or compulsory dues.

The OIQ has never financed the RéseauIQ. In fact, the opposite is true: the RéseauIQ has paid the OIQ for the privilege of offering its services to engineers.  Thus, the end of the agreement on March 31, 2010 also implies the end of the payment of substantial sums to the OIQ.

 
• What is the motivation for the OIQ to go back to offering services; is it part of its mission? 

We understand that this decision by the OIQ has created confusion among engineers, but let us reassure you: we will continue to carry on our mission to work in the interest of engineers.

The mission of every professional order is to protect the public, supervise professional practices and ensure respect for the code of ethics.  However, the OIQ seems to have decided to expand its activities.  Accordingly, the question of why is one that should be addressed directly to the OIQ and we invite you to do so.

Those who think that they should have been consulted before such an important decision was made or that this choice weakens its focus on its primary mission should ask the OIQ directly.

For any information about the distinct mission of the OIQ, you can refer to the OIQ site:  http://www.oiq.qc.ca/inshort/charter-mission.html

 
• Why are our two major organizations fighting over services instead of collaborating?

We do not see ourselves as adversaries.  We prefer to admit on the facts and act in full transparency.  We do however share the opinions of engineers who, in the comments they have sent us, say they are disappointed or surprised.

Some have said that they are “dismayed” and that this is "not a serious way to proceed.”  We have heard you.  The decision of the OIQ to offer new services and set the RéseauIQ aside was a surprise for us as well, giving us the feeling, as we have often said, that this situation sets engineers back ten years, in addition to giving the unpleasant impression that the OIQ is challenging the justification for the RéseauIQ.

It is true that the two of us will be competing to offer certain services. To deny that would be foolish.  Unless there is a change of direction by the OIQ, we nevertheless prefer to see it as healthy future competition. That may well mean that there will be even more competitive offers for engineers in the short term, but in the medium and long term, it undoubtedly weakens the strength of the group.

This decision by the OIQ will have no consequence for the services and activities offered by the RéseauIQ, except to make us work even harder to make them even more competitive on the market.   

 
• Does the OIQ offer services because those of the RéseauIQ were not attractive enough?

Some engineers have told us their opinion about certain services we offer.  We have received various comments about some of our rates and services, and we are currently in the process of verifying the details with our partners.  As with services everywhere, there are some users who are more satisfied than others.

We know that there is still a way to go if we are to offer engineers services that meet all their requirements, in terms of both benefits and regional accessibility. We are very much aware of the needs of members and favour continuous improvement.  Your opinion is very valuable to us because above all, we are seeking your satisfaction.

The recent partnerships with Re/Max Alliance in offering property brokerage (buying and selling) and with Planiprêt in offering mortgage brokerage services are well suited to our approach of offering increasingly specialized services to engineers.  We wish to offer value added to engineers while continuing to give quality services

 
• Collusion in construction: why don’t the OIQ and the RéseauIQ take a stand?

It should be noted that the RéseauIQ has taken a very clear stand in public and spoken out on several occasions clearly on the side of engineers and ethics.

In order to do this, the RéseauIQ conducted an opinion survey of engineers to find out their views of the numerous allegations of collusion between the construction industry and politicians.  This survey entirely respected the representativity criteria and rigorous standards of the polling industry.  The results, published on February 9, 2010, revealed the serious concern of engineers, who see this issue as tarnishing their reputation.  A very large majority (83 %) of engineers want there to be a public inquiry, and we will respect the desire of members by making this a priority issue.  We are asking forcefully for a public commission of inquiry to be held, to rid the barrel of its “rotten apples." Let the light shine on the facts!To see the results of this survey, visit our site at:  
http://www.reseauiq.qc.ca/en/debate/surveys_studies/sondage_collusion.html.

The results of this survey were presented on numerous national and regional media platforms as well as in the National Assembly.

You can easily access them by consulting our press review at  http://www.reseauiq.qc.ca/fr/medias/revue_presse.html.

 
• Imagine:  why another publication?

The magazine Imagine is a new product of the RéseauIQ, and we are working to make each issue even more responsive to the expectations of engineers from a perspective of continuous improvement.  We want to provide engineers an exciting and interesting magazine, focused on lifestyle.  Imagine examines the major issues and subjects affecting engineering in today’s Québec and around the world. This ideal communication vehicle lets us to reach all engineers, keep them informed of services and centralize the source of information. 

 
• Are there other organizations to which the RéseauIQ offers services?

In the fall of 2009, well after the decision by the OIQ to proceed with an RFP for services, the RéseauIQ was proud to expand its offerings to forest engineers. Following the lead of Gestion Férique, which had already opened its services to this group, we considered offering certain commercial services to forest engineers to be a pilot project for testing our ability to offer services to another organization and thereby increase our revenues. As you know, forest engineers are not members of the RéseauIQ. They are considered associates and can therefore not vote or be elected to the RéseauIQ Board of Directors.