Sunday, 17 September 2023

SCHOLAR: THEORY OF POLITICAL COMPETENCE


The way that competence is approached by Political Science takes from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta and ACGME- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education which attests that there are six domains by which competence develops.  They are Communication, Clientele, Professionalism, Systems, Processes, and Knowledge (Kavic 2002).  Every graduate of any discipline has developing competence through the teaching methods employed by academia. However, it is the ability to prove self-directed studies that also creates competence when validated with a Mentor or an Expert Witness.  Potter and Perry says that ethics “provides direction for ethical decision making and practice in everyday situations” (Ross-Kerr 2006).  They define best practice as “guiding principles leading to the most appropriate course of action certain standard practice situations” (Ross- Kerr 2006).  These become important when it relates to the academic integrity of the self-directed study.  According to UWaterloo, they define the steps within self- directed learning, 1) being ready to learn, 2) setting learning goals, 3) engaging in the learning process, and 4) evaluating learning (UWaterloo 2023).  In the first step, the student must display a readiness to learn.  This means that he or she displays some of the following behaviors being autonomous, organized, self-disciplined, able to communicate effectively, ability to accept constructive feedback and engage in self-evaluation and self­-reflection (UWaterloo 2023).  This step requires the evaluation of past education, experience and expertise within the subject matter to be studied.  In the second step, the student sets objectives and goals.  This is the time that the student uses positive reinforcement and affirmative reminders to get on track with the subject matter.  In this step, the student must declare the subject matter to be studied and the education used to create the study via a DECLARATION and a PROPOSAL and these set out the unit of study, the learning activities, details about primary and secondary sources and learning objectives.  At this stage the Expert Witness, must agree to a PROPOSAL sent to them by the student- Political Scientist and then they work towards a SERVICE AGREEMENT which then confirms that the student- Political Scientist is to retain the Expert Witness for the purposes of self-directed studies.  In step three the person engages in the learning process.  According to UWaterloo, they say that the student engages in one of the three approaches to studying, the deep approach, the surface approach and the strategic approach (2023).  The deep approach involves “understanding ideas for yourself, applying knowledge to new situations and using novel examples to explain a concept, and learning more than is required for unit completion” (UWaterloo 2023).  The surface approach on the other hand involves, “learning only what is required to complete a unit in good standing, and tending to regurgitate examples and explanations used in readings” (UWaterloo 2023).  And, finally, the strategic approach which means that the student- Political Scientist is organizing.  In this method, the student- Political Scientist attempts to achieve the highest possible grade and learning what is required to pass.  Step four is evaluating the learning that took place.  This involves self-reflection.  Self-reflection can occur through “VALUES CLARIFICATION,” or “JOURNALING”  (University of Edinburgh 2023).  With the steps of the self- directed learning process detailed it becomes important to iterate the role of the Expert Witness.  The role is not of an ordinary Instructor but rather an Advisor to the student- Political Scientist engaging in self-directed studies.  Within tertiary learning, competence is harbored so that proficiency and mastery can be achieved.  Competence involves a base line of knowledge.  This knowledge is then applied practically within the field, and repetition by the student results in proficiency.  As the individual, under tertiary learning, continues to apply competencies, he continues to grow competence because of the process of analysis but also he has the ability to achieve mastery which means that the student has a firm grasp on the competence that he has developed, about 80% of the content.  For the purposes of acumen, self- directed learning has multiple benefits according to the government of Ontario.  The benefits of self-directed learning as it pertains to acumen are as follows,

“Students learn to think about their own thinking and learning (metacognition) and to believe in their ability to learn and grow (growth mindset). They develop their ability to set goals, stay motivated, and work independently; Students who regulate their own learning are better prepared to become lifelong learners. They reflect on their thinking, experiences, and values, and respond to critical feedback, to enhance their learning. They also monitor the progress of their learning.  and; Students learn to take the past into account in order to understand the present and approach the future in a more informed way” (2023). 

As it pertains to books of authority, the Political Scientist should have a knowledge of the various literatures that people in other professions utilize.  Books of authority are defined by Boyd as “authoritative texts or commentaries summarizing various forms of law and applicable principles” from scholars of Law (2015).  This means that, these books were created in order to be able to manage the regulated profession.  In managing the regulated profession, it ensures that client rights are upheld in an ethical manner.  Some books of authority of other disciplines include:  the Merc Manual (Doctors), the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals (Pharmacists), Autodesk- AutoCAD (Engineers) and Casebooks (Lawyers). A bit of investigation of the discipline is necessary in order to be able to uncover these Books of Authority hence it is up to the discretion of the Political Scientist to do research before delving into a subject matter of a self-directed study of another discipline.  These books of authority have detailed information on the knowledge of the discipline.  These books also display the competence in the form of baseline knowledge and then competencies can be extracted from these.  With pertinence to the discipline of Political Science, the definitions for the above categories are generally as follows: 

Communication- The ability to be able to communicate verbally and nonverbally.  Being competent in this category means that the individual is able to use various communication techniques in order to be able to meet political objectives.  Further, nonverbal techniques of communication are utilized such as knowledge of correspondence include letters, notes, memos etc.  This also involves the employing of legal communication and social justice communication. 

Clientele- The Political Scientist looks at clientele from a unitary perspective all the way up to a group perspective- ex state or city etc.  The Political Scientist is culturally aware.  This means that he observes culturally considerate practices as this results in better diplomacy.   The Political Scientists is also aware of other Political figures or notable people within its or other industries such as CEO’s or even social justice entrepreneurs which could serve as social precedents by which to meet political objectives. 

Professionalism- Being competent in this category means that the individual observes a sense of ethics with relation to ethical dilemmas.  It also means that the individual keeps current on political matters and further, he or she uses best practice principles to ensure accountability.  The Political Scientist practices according to the prescribed curricula of the discipline.  The Political Scientist becomes a life long learner because of the professions dynamic nature. 

Knowledge- this includes practice and education.  The knowledge base of the discipline of Political Science is taught in post-secondary studies wherein programs are approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and are prescribed to students interested in studying the discipline.    The below are the completion requirements to obtain an undergraduate diploma in the discipline of Political Science. 

Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2023 says that the student must completed 48 specified credits for the a major in Political Science.  And they must complete English and Sociology as well.  At Kwantlen Polytechnic University, at the 3000 and the 4000 level, the student is given an option to take the following POLI3131 (Politics of Continental Integration) or POLI3160 (International Organization) and POLI3500 (Public Debates in Politics) or POLI4110 (Applied Policy seminar) or POLI4500 (Model United Nations). 

In University of British Columbia 2023, the Political Science program is designed to build on the previous courses at the lower levels.  Hence the aim of this university is to compound the knowledge learned through their teaching within the four years of the undergraduate program.  In the first year program, they teach POLI 100 (Introduction to Politics), POLI101 (Introduction to the Canadian Government) and POLI110 (Investigating Politics).  In the second year, they require POLI220 (Introduction to Comparative Politics), POLI1240 (Currents of Political Thought) and POLI260 (Introduction to Global Politics).  As for the third year they teach POLI 380 (Quantitative Methods in Political Science).  Lastly, for the fourth year, they require the student to do intensive research to fulfill graduating requirements for the faculty of Arts.  

Simon Fraser University has a lower division and a higher division course requirements as of 2023.  They detail the lower division which are the following:  POL 100 (Introduction to Politics and Government), POL200W (Investigating Politics:  Research Design and Qualitative Methods), POLI 201 (Introductory Quantitative Methods in Political Science), POL 210 (Introduction to Political Philosophy) and one of the following, POLI 221 (Introduction to the Canadian Government), POLI222 (Introduction to Canadian Politics) or POLI 253 (Introduction to Public Policy) and one of POLI212 (Political Engagement:  From the Streets to the Ballot Box) or POL 141 (International Relations). 

University of Toronto approaches Political Science by mixing and matching courses per it's 2023 website.  To enroll into the Political Science program the student must take two 100 level POLI courses of their choice.  This university values breadth and diversity so they let the students select POLI course to their interest.  At the 200 level the student takes POL 200Y (Political Theory: Visions of the Just/Good Society) and POL 320Y (Modern Political Thought).  The student is further supposed to take one of the following POL 201Y (Politics of Development: Issues and Controversies), POL 203Y (U.S. Government and Politics), POL 207Y (Politics in Europe) and POL 215Y (Politics and Transformation of Asia-Pacific) as these are comparative politics courses.  For the third year, students are encouraged to take 200 and 300 courses.  They must take a course in political theory, POL 320Y (Modern Political Thought).  As for the fourth year, they employ joint undergraduate-graduate seminars with extensive reading, research, and writing as well as seminar discussion.

In 2023, University California Berkley has six major requirements for graduating with an undergraduate degree of Political Science.  First, they require the completion of two of the following courses PS 1, Introduction to American Politics, PS 2, Introduction to Comparative Politics, PS 4, Introduction to Political Theory and or PS 5, Introduction to International Relations. Next the student is required to take PS 3, Intro to Empirical Theory and Quantitative Methods.  As for the third requirement, the student must fulfill the History component.  Next, the student must complete a course from every of the primary subfields which are:   American Politics: PS 1, 102-111B, 116J, 150-189, Comparative Politics: PS 2, 136A-149Z, Empirical Theory and Quantitative Methods: PS 3, 131A-C135, Political Theory: PS 4, 111AC, 112A-118AC, and International Relations: PS 5, 122A-129C, 138F, 144.  With these subfields defined, the next step is that the student must specialize in one of the six subfields.  Lastly, the student must take eight upper division courses within the Department of Political Science. 

Systems- The Political Scientist is aware and able to use social mobilization to affect parts of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, all parts of any government.  The Political Scientist can display knowledge of the government systems of other states and their governing documents including items such as “The Constitution” and “The Charter of Rights” if in Canada.    

Processes- The Political Scientist is aware of how to initiate processes by which would meet political objectives.  This means that the Political Scientist is aware of the processes involved within the domestic environment regarding social mobilization.  This is notwithstanding process within the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the government. 

The reason why the description of competence and its categories are being used by Political Science is because the discipline of Political Science, like the discipline of Medicine, has a large scope.  Akers defines scope as “the range of the phenomena that it proposes to explain” (2013).  The discipline itself works according to theory (Structural Functionalism) and in this it is tautological which means this becomes a methodic system.  Political Scientist are charged with analyzing and evaluating the public health and it's ecology because of this.  This means that the Political Scientist must understand multiple processes within the domestic environment to be an adept and proficient Political Scientist.  With regards to the data above regarding the requirements for undergraduate completion, it becomes evident that comparative politics, communication and quantitative scientific analysis, debating and policy become objectives of the discipline.  It has also been noted that this degree requires a lot of reading research and writing. 

The six-core competence model is appropriate because the description of competence is wide.  This process is a method, hence its a public right.  Further, competence is a biological and neurological concept.  Being a biological and neurological concept, it falls under the subject matter of Anatomy and Physiology and Pathology.  Physicians are highly educated in the workings of the body this is notwithstanding the human head and the Psychology that it involves.  Henceforth, the description of competence was taken and adjusted for the discipline of Political Science.  This means that, in order to assess the discipline of another in Political Science, the individual must use the six-core competence method because it is backed up by medical fact via research.  Further, the description was put under the lens of the Law Society for the reasons of equity & equality, safety & security, efficiency, feasibility, public acceptability, sustainability, accessibility & inclusiveness” (Cleland 2020).  The Law Society’s description of competence serves as a means by which there could be a check and balance to the description by ACGME.  From an engineering perspective, the fundamental principles are followed:

“As professionals …. individually and collectively commit to serve and protect the public …. The responsibility of self-regulation…; 

These obligations provide a framework for a Definition of Professional Practice and give rise to a Code of Ethics which outlines the broad, fundamental principles to which the profession aspires.”

As per the Code of Ethics of Engineering, Political Science should uphold the following: 

“Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and the protection of the environment and promote health and safety within the workplace;

Act as faithful agents of their clients or employers, maintain confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest, but, where such conflict arises, fully disclose the circumstances without delay to the employer or client;

Keep themselves informed in order to maintain their competence and strive to advance the body of knowledge within which they practice;

Report to their regulator other appropriate agencies any illegal or unethical …… decisions or practices by registrants or others;

Be aware of, and ensure that clients and employers are made aware of, societal and environmental consequences of actions or projects and endeavor to interpret ….  issues to the public in an objective and truthful manner;

Treat equitably and promote the equitable and dignified treatment of people in accordance with human rights legislation" (2013).

With the above considerations, it becomes evident that the discipline itself requires a governmental body to oversee the profession as it is the discipline charged with the responsibility of determining a “national interest.”  With concern of national interest, China is a modern technological country that has been slowly gaining ground on the USA.  According to the latest publications, China now has the highest number of published cited articles (Science 2022).  This is a very serious threat to the integrity of academia and academics and democracy and public participation of democracy.  The reason why this is a threat is because under an authoritarian regime, the control of information to the public and other stakeholders could be impaired.  In countries like China, they have used education as a means of propaganda.  Still yet to this day, China itself keeps deceiving its population about the event of Tiananmen Square.  On another note, Tesla corporation had its patents fully available to the public in a bid to combat patent monopolies.  Further the company needed to meet their mission statement which says, its objective is to bring green technologies to the people as soon as possible. A vehicle manufacturing company in China decided to take those and they infringed on the patents (Reuters 2023).  There is another example of a Chinese company that has been charged by the government.  Luckin coffee is a coffee brand which was a rival to other outlets such as Starbucks, and Dunkin Doughnuts, JJ Bean, and Tim Hortons.  This company decided to deceive its stakeholders by deceptive accounting (Reuters 2021).  These are the ramifications of a China that has the highest number of Scholarly Journals which is why an Office of Political Science becomes a necessary priority within the governments national interest.

With regards to legislations, several pieces of legislations are going to be detailed below.  It becomes increasingly important for the Political Scientist to note the origins of the standards established within the governments domestic environment.  It is these laws that are codified that serve to enforce the rule of law.  These rights under these legislations are provided to citizens on the basis of policy objectives. 

The Employment Standards Act established standards of population behavior within the workplace.  The literal (expression unius est exclusion alterius) interpretation of part of the Act below is as follows: 

"“employee” includes,

(a)  a person, including an officer of a corporation, who performs work for an employer for wages,

(b)  a person who supplies services to an employer for wages,

(c)  a person who receives training from a person who is an employer, if the skill in which the person is being trained is a skill used by the employer’s employees, or

(d)  a person who is a homeworker,

and includes a person who was an employee; (“employé”)

“employer” includes,

(a)  an owner, proprietor, manager, superintendent, overseer, receiver or trustee of an activity, business, work, trade, occupation, profession, project or undertaking who has control or direction of, or is directly or indirectly responsible for, the employment of a person in it, and

(b)  any persons treated as one employer under section 4, and includes a person who was an employer; (“employeur”)

“employment contract” includes a collective agreement; (“contrat de travail”)

“employment standard” means a requirement or prohibition under this Act that applies to an employer for the benefit of an employee; (“norme d’emploi”)

“establishment”, with respect to an employer, means a location at which the employer carries on business but, if the employer carries on business at more than one location, separate locations constitute one establishment if,

(a)  the separate locations are located within the same municipality, or

(b)  one or more employees at a location have seniority rights that extend to the other location under a written employment contract whereby the employee or employees may displace another employee of the same employer; (“établissement”)" (Government of Ontario 2023).

This part of the legislation defines an “employee.”  It says that an “employee,” is a person working for an employer that earns wages.  This employee provides services to the employee and is trained by the employer.  This legislation also describes an “employer,” and an “establishment.”  An employer is defined as an entity that has the responsibility for the employment of a person this is notwithstanding an “Owner,” or a “Manager.”  The Act also defines an “establishment,” is a place of business.  Last of note, the Act itself defines the origins of the employment “standard,” as this legislation. 

With regards to the context (ejusdem generis) interpretation of the Act, any individual within a work place must behave according to this Act.  In July 2023 according to CBC, the unemployment rate is 5.5% (2023), this means that there are many people that are employed and it could be assumed that their behavior at work spills over to other faucets of their lives.  This means that it could be assumed that, this Act establishes and promotes ethical behaviors within the domestic environment.  Hence, the discipline of Political Science needs not focus largely on three of the six categories of core competence which are specifically the following, Communication, Clientele and Professionalism.  This legislation is also related to the following Acts which further serve to enforce three of the six core competence categories, the Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 

Pertaining to purpose interpretation (nosciutur a sociis), in the Province of Ontario this “legislation was designed to set minimum standards for Ontario’s labor market and provide legislative protection for those most vulnerable to employer exploitation” (2023).  Some of the standards established through this act are as follows, a minimum wage, pregnancy leave, overtime pay, severance pay, and Ministry of Labor regulation.  In this legislation, the Ministry of Labor appoints an Employment Standards Officer who may enter the premises for inspection and enforcement of the Act.  This Officer may request documents from the business and further, they provide information to both employers and employees for voluntary compliance with the legislation.  This legislation essentially establishes a baseline of professional behavior within the work environment for both employees and employers.  This act also essentially establishes policy objectives. 

With regards to the University Act, the statutory (expression unius est exclusion alterius) interpretation of the act below is as follows: 

"35.2   (1)A special purpose, teaching university must have a senate.

(2)The senate of a special purpose, teaching university is composed of the following:

(a)the chancellor;

(b)the president, who is its chair;

(c)the academic vice president or equivalent;

(d)the deans of faculties;

(e)the chief librarian;

(f)the registrar;

(g)two faculty members for each faculty, elected by faculty members of the faculty;

(h)four students elected by the students;

(i)one alumni member who is not a faculty member, appointed by the president on nomination by the alumni association;

(j)two support staff elected by the support staff;

(k)one non-voting member of the senate, if appointed to the senate by the board to serve for one year.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2) (j), "support staff" means employees of the special purpose, teaching university who are not

(a)officers of the special purpose, teaching university, or

(b)deans or faculty members.

(4)The senate of a special purpose, teaching university must make bylaws for the conduct of the business of the senate, including bylaws specifying the duties of members of the senate in conflict of interest situations.

(5)The senate of a special purpose, teaching university has the power and duty to do all of the following:

(a)regulate how its meetings and proceedings are conducted, including determining

(i)the quorum necessary for the transaction of its business, and

(ii)how a vice chair, who is to chair meetings in the absence of the president, is annually elected;

(b)set criteria for awarding certificates, diplomas and degrees, including honorary degrees;

(c)set curriculum content for courses leading to certificates, diplomas and degrees;

37   (1)The academic governance of the university is vested in the senate and it has the following powers:

(a)to regulate the conduct of its meetings and proceedings, including the determination of the quorum necessary for the transaction of its business, and the election of a vice chair at least annually, who is to chair meetings in the absence of the president;

(b)to establish committees it considers necessary and, by 2/3 vote of its members present, to delegate to one or more committees those of its powers as it may determine;

(c)to determine all questions relating to the academic and other qualifications required of applicants for admission as students to the university or to any faculty, and to determine in which faculty the students pursuing a course of study must register;

(d)to determine the conditions under which candidates must be received for examination, to appoint examiners and to determine the conduct and results of all examinations;

(e)to establish a standing committee to meet with the president and assist the president in preparing the university budget;

(f)to consider, approve and recommend to the board the revision of courses of study, instruction and education in all faculties and departments of the university." (Government of British Columbia 2023).

The legislation states that, the appointed university has a Senate.  In this there is the “Chancellor,” the, “President, the “Vice President” and the “Dean.”  With that said, the legislation continues on to specify that the Senate itself has the authority to, “set curriculums for courses” and further down, the Senate, has the power to “consider, approve and recommend to the board, the revision of course study.”  This means that the Board of Directors has the authority to control the prescribed curriculum of any discipline taught in the province of British Columbia. 

With regards to the University Act, the context (ejusdem generis) interpretations as follows and as it pertains to the discipline of Political Science- the discipline can work with this legislation in getting its programs approved by the appointed university within the province of British Columbia.  Working with this legislation helps establish the legitimacy of the discipline and those who hold professions under it. 

Pertaining to purpose interpretation (nosciutur a sociis), in the Province of British Columbia, UBC says that, “In 1890, the Provincial Legislature passed “An Act Respecting the University of British Columbia.”  Under terms of the Act, all graduates of any university in the Dominion resident in British Columbia became members of the University and constituted the first convocation” (2023).  This act was used to establish higher education in British Columbia while also helping to bring together other Universities within the region.  This then becomes a matter of a legal maxim- assentio mentium – the meeting of minds. 

With regards to the Health Professions Act, the statutory interpretation of the act below is as follows: 

"12.  Prohibition and limitation — use of reserved titles

(1)If a regulation under section 12 (2) (b) prescribes a title to be used exclusively by registrants of a college, a person other than a registrant of the college must not use the title, an abbreviation of the title or an equivalent of the title or abbreviation in another language

(a)to describe the person's work,

(b)in association with or as part of another title describing the person's work, or

(c)in association with a description of the person's work.

(2)If a regulation under section 12 (2) (b.1) prescribes a limit or condition respecting the use of a title, the title must not be used except in accordance with the regulation.

(3)A person other than a registrant of a college must not use a name, title, description or abbreviation of a name or title, or an equivalent of a name or title in another language, in any manner that expresses or implies that he or she is a registrant or associated with the college.

15.  Health profession college established

(1)On designation of a health profession under section 12 (1), a college responsible for carrying out the objects of this Act in respect of the health profession is established.

(2)A college is a corporation consisting of

(a)the members of the board who are

(i)appointed under section 17 (2), or

(ii)appointed or elected in accordance with section 17 (3) and (4), and

(b)the persons who are registrants of the college.

(3)For the purposes of exercising its powers and performing its duties under this Act, a college has the powers and capacity of a natural person of full capacity, including the power to acquire and dispose of property.

(3.1)[Repealed 2008-29-9.]

(4)The Business Corporations Act does not apply to a college unless the minister, by regulation, provides that specified provisions of that Act apply to the college, in which case the specified provisions apply.

16.  Duty and objects of a college

(1)It is the duty of a college at all times

(a)to serve and protect the public, and

(b)to exercise its powers and discharge its responsibilities under all enactments in the public interest.

(2)A college has the following objects:

(a)to superintend the practice of the profession;

(b)to govern its registrants according to this Act, the regulations and the bylaws of the college;

(c)to establish the conditions or requirements for registration of a person as a member of the college;

(d)to establish, monitor and enforce standards of practice to enhance the quality of practice and reduce incompetent, impaired or unethical practice amongst registrants;

(e)to establish and maintain a continuing competency program to promote high practice standards amongst registrants;

(f)to establish, for a college designated under section 12 (2) (h), a patient relations program to seek to prevent professional misconduct of a sexual nature;

(g)to establish, monitor and enforce standards of professional ethics amongst registrants;

(h)to require registrants to provide to an individual access to the individual's health care records in appropriate circumstances;

(i)to inform individuals of their rights under this Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;

(i.1)to establish and employ registration, inquiry and discipline procedures that are transparent, objective, impartial and fair;

(j)to administer the affairs of the college and perform its duties and exercise its powers under this Act or other enactments;

(k)in the course of performing its duties and exercising its powers under this Act or other enactments, to promote and enhance the following:

(i)collaborative relations with other colleges, regional health boards designated under the Health Authorities Act and other entities in the Provincial health system, post-secondary education institutions and the government;

(ii)interprofessional collaborative practice between its registrants and persons practising another health profession;

(iii)the ability of its registrants to respond and adapt to changes in practice environments, advances in technology and other emerging issues.

Board for health profession college

17   (1)For each college, there is a board.

(2)The minister must, by order,

(a)appoint to the first board for a college persons who each hold office for the term set by the minister, and

(b)set a date by which all members of the board must be appointed or elected in accordance with the bylaws.

(2.1)For the purposes of subsection (2) (a), the minister may set different terms for different persons.

(3)Subject to subsection (4.1), the board for the college consists of the following:

(a)not fewer than 3 registrants elected in accordance with the bylaws;

(a.1)the certified non-registrants elected in accordance with the bylaws;

(a.2)the certified non-registrants appointed by the board in accordance with the bylaws;

(b)not fewer than 2 persons appointed by order of the minister.

(4)Subject to subsection (4.1), the number of persons appointed under subsection (3) (b)

(a)must not be less than 1/3 of the total board membership, and

(b)must not be more than the total number of persons elected or appointed under subsection (3) (a) to (a.2).

(4.1)The board for a college is deemed to be constituted in accordance with subsections (3) and (4) beginning on the date of the appointment of the first board under subsection (2) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

(a)the date on which all members of the board have been appointed or elected in accordance with subsection (3) (a) to (a.2);

(b)the date set under subsection (2) (b).

(5)Subject to sections 25.05 and 25.06, a member of a board who has resigned or whose appointment or term of office has expired or otherwise ended may, even if a successor is appointed or elected, continue to serve as a member of a committee established under section 19 (1) (t) to complete work of the committee that began before the resignation or the expiry or end of the term.

(6)Persons appointed by the minister under subsection (2) (a) or (3) (b) need not be registrants or eligible to be registrants" (Government of British Columbia 2023).

This legislation literally establishes a college which has control of reserved titles such as MD, RN, LPN.  The designated colleges regulate the persons work and the description of the work.  It says that the “college” is composed of a Board of Directors who are appointed to the corporation.  Their duty is based on a maxim, salus populi est suprema lex or suprema lex salus populi.  Hence the board must, serve the public and protect the public interest.  The board establishes registration and collaborates with other colleges.  They also enforce a standard within the profession.  Lastly, within the board, the person’s appointed need not be registrants of the College corporation. 

With regards to the Health Professions Act, the context interpretation of the act is as follows, with regards to the discipline of Political Science a title can be used “BA.”  BA is the acronym for Bachelor of Arts.  Political Science is a degree that falls under the faculty of Arts within the University.  This “title” could be regulated by a college of Political Science.  If a college of Poltical Science manifests, it must work and collaborate with the health colleges under this legislations or the legislations that precede it. 

With regards to the Health Professions Act, the purpose interpretation of the act is as follows, in British Columbia, it is being planned that all Health professions will now fall under the “Health Professions and Occupations Act” (CBC 2022).  Health professions in Canada have only been regulated for about 30 – 40 years, in the 90’s.  The purpose of this legislation according to Ontario, is to “better protect and serve the public interest;  be a more open and accountable system of self-governance;  provide a more modern framework for the work of health professionals;  provide consumers with freedom of choice; and provide mechanisms to improve quality of care” (2023). 

"Jury Act

3.  disqualification from serving as a juror

3   (1)A person is disqualified from serving as a juror who is

(a)not a Canadian citizen,

(b)not resident in British Columbia,

(c)under the age of majority,

(d)a member or officer of the Parliament of Canada or of the Privy Council of Canada,

(e)a member or officer of the Legislature or of the Executive Council,

(f)a judge, justice or court referee,

(g) and (h)[Repealed 2004-23-22.]

(i)an employee of the Legal Services Society or of a funded agency, as defined by the Legal Services Society Act,

(j)a barrister or solicitor,

(k)a court official,

(l)a sheriff or sheriff's officer,

(m)a peace officer,

(n)a warden, correctional officer or person employed in a penitentiary, prison, correctional institution or youth custody centre,

(o)subject to a mental or physical infirmity incompatible with the discharge of the duties of a juror,

(p)a person convicted of an offence under the Criminal Code, the Cannabis Act (Canada) or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) unless a pardon was granted or issued, or a record suspension was ordered, under the Criminal Records Act (Canada) and the pardon or record suspension, as the case may be, has not been revoked or ceased to have effect,

(q)currently charged with an offence under the Criminal Code, the Cannabis Act (Canada) or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada), or

(r)a member of a class of persons prescribed by regulation" (Government of British Columbia 2023).

The literal interpretation of this act above is as follows, Jurors are found to be ineligible if they meet the following requirements under s3.  Grounds for disqualification are examples as, not being a Canadian citizen, under the age of majority or even being a barrister or solicitor.  For the context interpretation, the Political Scientist must be aware of his or her profession within the field and ‘that if he or she progresses to other parts of the government, he may not be able to be qualified for Jury duty because it becomes a conflict of interest.  Regardless, this legislation is a means by which to explain eligibility within a college of Political Science.  With regards to the Jury Act, the purpose interpretation is to have a democratic inclusive society.  By being a Juror, the rational decision making of the citizen is factored into the rendered decision by a civil Judge.  This gives the rendered decision the force of democracy. 

With regards to the Good Samaritan Act, the statutory interpretation of the act below is as follows: 

"1         No liability for emergency aid unless gross negligence

1         A person who renders emergency medical services or aid to an ill, injured or unconscious person, at the immediate scene of an accident or emergency that has caused the illness, injury or unconsciousness, is not liable for damages for injury to or death of that person caused by the person's act or omission in rendering the medical services or aid unless that person is grossly negligent" (Government of British Columbia 2023).

The literal interpretation of this legislation means that the person providing “aid,” to an individual that is in immediate need is not liable for damages that occur as a result of providing that “aid.”  In that, the person providing the aid is protected under this legislation as they provided a service on the basis of good faith.  Yates describes “good faith as, “a characteristic of bargaining that makes every reasonable effort to reach an agreement” (2017).    

With regards to (ejusdem generis) the context interpretation, it means that if Political Scientist provides “emergency aid,” to an individual requiring help with his or her injury- defined as a tort in the Yates text, he or she is not liable because those services were provided on the basis of “good faith.”  However, if the Political Scientist provides services with the principles of consideration in mind, he or she is disqualified because he took profit from it.  Hence, the diligent Political Scientist can provide aid via AMICUS BRIEFS as he aims to become an amicus curae.    

With regards to the Good Samaritan Act, the purpose interpretation is as follows:  This act was created so that people would not be in fear to come to the assistance of individuals experiencing the peril of injury from an emergency situation.  Valiente Mott says that “the law encourages altruism in each one of us. Before the law was established, it was found that people, in an ever-increasingly litigious society, were reluctant to come to the aid of others for fear of exposing themselves to litigation (2023). 

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