Planning for the Future
OPPI members have voted in favour of a new Canada-wide membership and certification process—dubbed Planning for the Future. Implementation, however, will not be immediate. In the meantime existing rules will apply until OPPI Council has notified members that the by-law amendments are going to take effect. This notice will be posted on the OPPI website and sent to members by email no later than 15 days prior to the date of implementation.
Once the new process has been implemented, existing Provisional Members will continue towards Full Membership under the former process. In other words, they will continue under the same membership process they began.
Stay tuned to the OPPI website for timely updates.
What is changing?
Becoming a Full member - The new membership certification process articulates two routes to becoming a Full member: one for graduates of an accredited planning program and one for those who are not. It also incorporates mandatory mentorship and ethics requirements.
Strengthening synergies between university planning programs and the planning profession - Accreditation seeks to ensuring that university planning programs provide students with the knowledge they need to work as professional planners and foster close ties to the profession and professional practice.
Establishing Professional Standards Board - Newly-created partnership organization will administer nationally consistent membership certification and accreditation process.
Ongoing monitoring and review - CIP and its affiliates are committed to on-going review and updating of membership policy and requirements to ensure continuing relevance and excellence.
Why is this important?
We have come a long way over the past 25 years, but we must continue to ensure professional planners have the strong foundation they need for the future. Appropriate standards of practice and ethics in a diverse and globalized society will demonstrate planning professionals’ commitment to excellence.
A little light reading…
Webpage updated 16.11.11.