Dear Members,

March has arrived, announcing our annual celebration of Quebec engineering. Engineering month is an important event that highlights the excellence of our profession and allows us to reflect upon our collective future.

Engineers are professionals who perform essential work in the development of our society. However, there has been a shortage of engineers in Quebec over the past few years and remedying this situation becomes a source of concern. According to the Annual RéseauIQ study on engineering needs, businesses have significant human resource requirements for new graduate and intermediate positions. In fact, the aging workforce translates into many new opportunities for engineers looking for employment. In addition, there is a marked need for positions in fields such as civil engineering (36% of hiring projections) which has created increased demand for employment once again this year.

Quebec must therefore make every effort possible to remove the obstacles to inter-provincial mobility. Businesses in outlying regions have difficulty meeting their recruitment needs, despite the many challenges that engineers can embrace there.

In order to overcome this shortage in the various fields of engineering, Quebec should take advantage of the pool of talent that engineers trained in foreign countries can offer. Integration and continued training are key elements that will help us satisfy the demand created by new projects and the number of engineers heading for retirement.

The allegations of collusion over recent months that certainly concern only a tiny minority of engineers have had an impact on the reputation of our profession. According to a survey we conducted in January 2010, there was a marked willingness among our members get to the bottom of these matters and unmask those who are responsible for these morally reprehensible and often illegal actions. It is for this reason that we are asking for the creation of a commission of public inquiry.

Being an engineer is more than a career choice, it is a commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and the betterment of society!

Happy engineering month!

Yves Lavoie, ing.
President of RéseauIQ