White Paper
The Professional Chemist in British Columbia
Introduction
Given the essential role of chemistry in health, environment, energy, food and many other aspects of our everyday lives and our equal familiarity with the professions of law, medicine, and engineering, it would be easy to assume that the Professional Chemist is recognized in British Columbia along with all the other professions.
That is currently not the case. Although the Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia (ACPBC) represents practicing chemists in the province, the occupation of Professional Chemist is the last remaining major profession that is not recognized in provincial statute, for example in a Chemists Act, and hence “Professional Chemist” is not a regulated occupation in BC.
This brief from the ACPBC addresses a number of questions about this anomaly that you might well ask in order to be convinced that a Chemists Act would be in the public interest.
What role does chemistry play in the economy and the quality of life of British Columbians? Would direct input of the Professional Chemist into decision making on a par with other professions improve the efficiency of business and public policy?
Does the Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia have the capacity to administer the occupation of Professional Chemist and to ensure accountability and competency in a way that protects the public interest?
Will it be challenging to draft and implement such a statute? Will it add unnecessary complexity in regulation?
Is there any advantage to recognizing the Professional Chemist in British Columbia in our inter-provincial trade and commerce, or in having efficient access to highly trained professionals who are chemists?