Notice for ASET Members re: CCTT

April 07, 2010

After lengthy deliberation at its meeting on March 26, 2010, ASET Council voted to sever its association with the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists, CCTT, in favor of creating a new national partnership with other provincial associations which have also recently decided to end their association with CCTT. On March 30, 2010 ASET filed the mandatory 160 days notice to withdraw from CCTT.

Background

ASET has been a long-standing supporter of a national federation (CCTT) in an effort to advance the interests of the profession nationally and globally. In 2008-2009, serious concerns related to the effectiveness of the current national federation model necessitated a review of the CCTT framework. The review provided recommendations for improvement, but the constituent members and stakeholders of CCTT could not reach consensus on a new national framework. As a result of these divisions, the ASET Council voted to withdraw from CCTT. Alberta joins Ontario, and British Columbia, who also withdrew from CCTT in March of 2010, as most recent associations to leave CCTT. The professionals in Quebec (OTPQ) left CCTT in 2009.  

The new model

Despite the resignation from CCTT, ASET will keep a strong national presence under a new national framework which will be developed in cooperation with the other provincial associations. ASET’s commitment at a national level is vital to advancing the profession. 

What it means going forward

ASET is enshrined in provincial legislation, so the profession will not notice any changes regardless of what occurs at the national level. However, you should be reassured that:

1. ASET designations C.Tech., C.E.T., R.E.T., and P.Tech (Eng) remain secure.

2. ASET remains committed to a stronger national accreditation process of technical programs as one of our main priorities. No program will be jeopardized because of this transition.

3. ASET remains committed to the maintenance and development of National Technology Benchmarks (NTB) for academics as one of our main priorities.

4. Inter-provincial labour mobility remains secure.

Given the importance of this issue, I will be providing periodic updates to the membership.

Thank you for your attention and interest.

Sincerely,

Barry Cavanaugh, ASET CEO
On behalf of ASET Council