Ontario Professional FORESTERS Association

Ontario Professional Foresters Association

The Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA) is the governing body for foresters in Ontario. The Office of the Fairness Commissioner (OFC) oversees the registration practices of the association to ensure that they are transparent, objective, impartial and fair for anyone who wants to practise as a forester in this province.

2011
2010
2009
2008
2007

Report on Entry-to-Practice Review, 2011

Fair Registration Practices (FRP) Report, 2010
Audit Report

Applications to Practise Processed by the OPFA in 2010
Jan. 1 to Dec. 31	Jurisdiction Where Applicants Received Their Training					Total
Jan. 1 to Dec. 31	Ontario	Other Canadian Provinces	USA	Other International	Unknown	Total
New applications received	22	2	0	3	1	28
Applicants who became members	11	1	0	0	0	12

Fair Registration Practices (FRP) Report, 2009

For a description of all OFC-monitored developments for this profession for 2009, see the 2009-2010 Annual Report.

Applications to Practise Processed by the OPFA in 2009
Jan. 1 to Dec. 31	Jurisdiction Where Applicants Received Their Training					Total
Jan. 1 to Dec. 31	Ontario	Other Canadian Provinces	USA	Other International	Unknown	Total
New applications received	12	6	0	2	0	20
Applicants who became members	14	1	0	0	0	15

Fair Registration Practices (FRP) Report, 2008

The OPFA has been working with all the professional forestry regulatory bodies in Canada (with the exception of Quebec's) to change these bodies' criteria for membership – to focus on core knowledge, to allow for more flexibility and to look at competency rather than only education credentials. The new competency-based criteria have been approved by all the provincial professional forestry councils involved, and will be applied in parallel with the old education standards until 2015. The previous local experience (or equivalent) requirement remains in place.

The OPFA continues to work on its compliance with the federal-provincial-territorial Agreement on Internal Trade with respect to the transfer of registered professional foresters among provinces. It appears that the OPFA's forest policy and administration exam process is acceptable, but other provinces have been advised that their comparable exams are unacceptable. According to the OPFA, resolution of this issue will require cross-government concurrence.

The OPFA plans to review its by-laws in 2009 to formalize new mechanisms for appeal of its registration decisions.

Applications to Practise Processed by the OPFA in 2008
Jan. 1 to Dec. 31	Jurisdiction Where Applicants Received Their Training					Total
Jan. 1 to Dec. 31	Ontario	Other Canadian Provinces	USA	Other International	Unknown	Total
New applications received	26	11	1	4	1	43
Applicants who became members	19	7	0	0	1	27

During the fall and winter of 2007-2008, the OFC undertook a study of the OPFA to understand its 2007 registration practices and establish baseline data and information. PDF

The OPFA uses the following outside organization/s to assess the qualifications of its applicants:

The Ontario Professional Foresters Association falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The OFC does not assess credentials, handle complaints or intervene in particular cases. Our mandate is one of systemic change. Please contact the OPFA for further information about your ability to practise as a forester in Ontario.

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