3938 APEG Mar.Apr Edit.indd - APEGBC

association notes
10 MARCH/APRIL 2008 INNOVATION
New Registration Bylaw In Effect
In a special bylaw vote in December of last year, the membership
voted 97% in favour of a new registration bylaw to replace an existing
bylaw that was earlier ruled invalid by the BC Supreme Court.
Following the vote, the new registration bylaw was brought to the
Lieutenant Governor in Council for review.
The disallowance period has now passed and the revised registration
bylaw is now in effect. Updated copies of the Bylaws
of the Association will be made available on the APEGBC
website shortly.
Digital Signature and Electronic Seal Technology to be Made
Available in Spring
In the September/October 2007 issue of Innovation,
members were introduced to digital signature and
electronic seal technology. APEGBC will be partnering
with Notarius Inc to offer the digital signature and
electronic seal technology to members, and will be
the second Canadian jurisdiction to use this system.
It is anticipated that this technology will be available
in late spring.
The use of the digital signature and electronic
sealing technology will allow APEGBC members to
electronically preserve, transmit and sign electronic
documents, files or e-mails to clients, owners,
municipalities and others, thus increasing the
efficiency of business processes and service to
clients. For APEGBC members this may result in
reduced costs for printing, delivery, staff time and
storage. The following simple process will allow
members in good standing to benefit from
this technology:
1. Fill in a request form.
2. Sign the request form in the presence of another
member in good standing or notary.
3. Forward your request form, required documentation
and payment information to APEGBC.
Following receipt of the request, APEGBC will verify
the membership status of both the member making the
request and the individual who has witnessed the identity
(if using another member in good standing) and will
grant Notarius permission to issue an offi cial APEGBC
digital signature and electronic seal. It is important to
note that APEGBC will only be providing the infrastructure
for use of digital signatures and electronic seals
and will not mandate members to either electronically
seal documents or to accept such documents.
This new technology will be of great benefi t to
APEGBC members, as it facilitates adherence to
the Engineers and Geoscientist Act, which requires
members to apply their signature and seal to their
designs and documents. In addition, it offers
enhanced protection to the public as the Notarius
system guarantees authenticity. Notarius supplies
an electronic image of the member’s seal with a
green check mark confi rming that the member is, in
fact, licensed to practice by APEGBC, or a red X if
there is an issue with the practice or membership
status of the member.
Members will be notifi ed when the service is
available in the spring.