EJQ1 - Summer 2024 - Journal - Page 43
However, the downfall of the roll-out quickly became clear. Project
Leaders (usually clients), the ones who retain consultants to do the work,
were not provided the same education. The MECP expected consultants
to provide education on why clients now needed to spend more money
when nothing had changed at their site. At 昀椀rst glance, this does not seem
like an issue, but based on experience it can put QPs in a di昀케cult position.
Firstly, QPs had a duty to inform their clients of the new regulations. As
consultants we are selling our services and expertise as QPs, and because
of the very nature of the relationship it can be uncomfortable to tell your
client “Hey, there are these new rules you need to spend a lot of money to
be in compliance with.”
Secondly, while the framework of the regulations is strong, there are
subtle nuances that are left up to QP judgment. When trying to explain
the nuances of APEC (or “area of potential environmental concern”)
delineation, liquid soil sampling, or testing requirements for bedrock
it is entirely reasonable to assume that individual QPs have di昀昀erent
interpretations. The best approach is to educate and explain your
approach to your clients about what you are doing and why, the more
open your clients will be to your advice. Transparency and honesty are the
most critical components of an e昀昀ective communication strategy.
One example of this is how to tell a client that their site is clean enough to get
a Record of Site Condition (RSC) but is considered contaminated under the Excess Soil Regulations as there are now additional standards to compare to. Think
about how bizarre that must be for our clients to comprehend. This is why one
of the things we o昀昀er to our clients is to have us give their entire sta昀昀 a seminar on the regulations with their nuances and our understanding. As a result of
these sessions clients are more informed and are better positioned to understand the requirements of future sites.
Clearly, communication is one of the most important skills a QP can have in their
toolbox, and like anything else it is ever evolving. For those of us who are part of the
Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO) we have access to resources such as
the Geologize’s Practical Geocommunication Course. This is a 10-hour course that
teaches strategies and techniques for communicating with di昀昀erent groups and
through various mediums and is a fantastic resource. Continuing professional development does not just mean keeping up to date with the latest technical developments, it is also a chance to develop other soft skills that are central to our success.
Logan Jung-Ritchie is a geoscientist and Sean Morris is a
senior engineering technologist with Grounded Engineering.
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • Q1 2 02 4 • P AGE 4 3
