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Frequently Asked Questions

Liability Insurance Open

Private practice

What does the term private practice mean ?

For the purposes of the application of the Regulation respecting professional liability insurance of members of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, private practice refers to members who, while self-employed or on behalf of an employer, provide professional services related to one or more fields of practice of engineering to an external clientele. The fields of practice involved are those listed in the definition of engineering works appearing in sections 2 and 3 of the Engineers Act.

The following categories of engineers are thus most likely to be considered to be in private practice:

members employed by a consulting engineering firm;
members who provide professional engineering services for an external clientele (e.g. self-employed consultants, building and other inspectors, members who inspect or modify vehicles, members who work in an analytical laboratory, claims adjusters, etc., in their own fields of practice of engineering).

The insurance contract may be bought by the engineers themselves or by the company that employs them, provided that the member’s personal professional liability is covered.

Must a member who engages in private practice retain his professional liability insurance after he retires or ceases to practice?

Yes, for at least five years after having performed his last professional act.

Should an engineer, who is entered on the roll of the Order in this capacity and who is working in Quebec on projects that are to be entirely produced, constructed or manufactured outside of Quebec, sign and seal the drawings and specifications that he pr

Yes. He should sign and seal the drawings and specifications that he produces, wherever the project is produced. However, the engineer shall also be sure to comply with the regulations in force wherever the project is to be produced.

What minimum limits of coverage do the Order's regulation require for any professional liability insurance for members carrying on a private practice, except for those engaging in such practice outside of their primary jobs?

* $250,000 per incident
* $500,000 maximum for all incidents over the course of the period of coverage or prior to that period, if claims are submitted during the course of the period of coverage.

This minimum limits of cover rise respectively to $500,000 and $1,000,000 for:

* A member who employs one or more other members, a corporation or a company.
* A member who is an administrator, director or shareholder of a company, or a partner in the case of a corporation.

Are engineers required to hold professional liability insurance?

Engineers who carry on a private practice in Quebec must hold professional liability insurance in compliance with the Regulations on Professional Liability Insurance for members of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (sections 8 and 9).

Group plan of professional liability insurance

Who is not entitled to coverage under the group professional liability insurance plan?

Any member:

    * Who is a decision maker in a company that designs and builds, installs or manufactures.
    * Who engages in private practice within a company in which he is employed.
    * Who provides professional services on a self-employed basis.
    * Many other exclusions appear in the policy itself. Please call 514 845-6141 or 1 800 461-6141, Ext. 3149, or send an email to arp@oiq.qc.ca for additional information.

What coverage limits apply to the group professional liability insurance plan?

# $100,000 per claim.
# $250,000 for all claims pertaining to a single project.

Can a retired engineer who is still entered on the roll of the OIQ as an active member perform professional functions?

Yes, a retired member can perform one or more professional functions. His professional liability with respect to any error or negligence on his part will be covered by the group professional liability insurance plan:

* If the fees for each of his assignments is no more than $2,000.

AND

* If his total fees over the same year is no more than $10,000

Scope of practice and competency Open

Trustee

Am I required to hire an engineer for the work I wish to carry out?

The Engineers Act lists the kinds of work that fall within the exclusive practice of an engineer. Section 2 specifies in particular:

...the foundations, framework and electrical and mechanical systems of buildings the cost of which exceeds $100,000 and of public buildings within the meaning of the Public Buildings Safety Act (chapter S-3).

In other words, only an engineer may provide consultations or opinions, make measurements, produce layouts, prepare reports, computations, designs, drawings, plans and specifications or inspect or supervise job sites with respect to the work designated in section 2 of the Act.

Dangerous work

The work being performed at my neighbour's place looks very dangerous and I believe it poses a risk to them or to me, my children, my property and my belongings. What can I do?

Contact your municipality which has the necessary authority to ensure public safety within its territory.

Recourses and decisions Open

Trustee

Can I personally file a disciplinary complaint against an engineer?

Yes. You have two choices. You can ask the syndic of the Order to investigate an engineer or you can directly lodge your complaint with the Order's Disciplinary Council.

Recommending an engineer Open

Recommending an engineer

Can the Order refer an engineer?

No, but we can tell you if an engineer is listed on the roll of the Order, and if that engineer has ever been the subject of a disciplinary decision or penalty or of a restriction of his right to engage in professional activities.

Trustee Open

Dissatisfaction with the services of an engineer

The engineer that I hired has not completed his assignment and I want him to refund the money that I already paid to him. What should I do?

Contact the General Department of the Order to request account mediation within 60 days of the date the account is received.

Use of title Open

Usage of title

Who, in Quebec, is authorized to use the titles ''Engineer'', " ingénieur" and their abreviation "Eng.", " ing." ?

In Québec, the OIQ is the only body legally authorized to grant the professional title of “Engineer” (or “ingénieur” in French). In other words, anyone who uses such a title without being a member in good standing of the Order has committed an offence and may be prosecuted under law.

The term ""member"" applies to engineers and to:

* Junior engineers with the title of ""junior engineer"" (abbreviation: Jr. Eng.) and ingénieur junior (ing. jr).
* Engineers-in-Training with the title Engineer-in-Training (E.I.T.) or ""ingénieur stagiaire"" (abbreviation: ing. stag.).

May a member of the OIQ add the abbreviation "P. Eng." next to their name ?

No, this abbreviation (which means ""Professional Engineer"") is reserved for members of the professional engineering associations in other Canadian provinces. Only a member of the Order who is also the member of another Canadian association of professional engineers may use it. The title of ""Professional Engineer"" is not associated with the professional permit issued in Quebec.

Note: Professional Engineer is abbreviated as ""P.E."" in the United States.

Gare Windsor, bureau 350
1100, avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Montréal (Québec) H3B 2S2

1 514 845-6141
Toll free : 1 800 461-6141