The purpose of regulating members of a profession is to protect the public from preventable harm. Regulatory authorities are public organizations and instruments of government that have been given the privilege to regulate the profession in the interest of the public and are accountable to government and the public. This privilege can be taken away; therefore, the governance and performance of these organizations is extremely important.
A regulatory body addresses the following when governing:
- Protects the public’s interests
- Ensures minimum standards of education and practice
- Sets a Code of Ethics
- Manages unprofessional conduct complaints
- Disciplines professionals who breach professional standards
The Alberta Institute of Agrologists is governed by the Agrology Profession Act, the Agrology Profession Regulation and the AIA bylaws that were written to assist compliance with the Act.
Two other pieces of legislation direct the institute in its’ governance: The Fair Registration Practices Act, the Interpretation Act and the Labor Mobility Act from which stems the Canada Free Trade Agreement and the New West Partnership Agreement. These documents guide the governance of the AIA profession.