An engineering professor, Taylor Steele, emphasized the need for more independent reviews of building plans, especially from single-person firms, to prevent mistakes. This follows allegations against suspended Moncton structural engineer Hélène Thériault for serious deficiencies in her building designs. Steele and Halifax engineer John Richardson highlighted that municipalities generally trust submitted building plans without thorough reviews of design decisions and calculations. They argue for more peer reviews to catch errors, especially in firms without multiple engineers. The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick, which suspended Thériault, cited issues in multiple buildings’ designs. Municipalities like Moncton and Dieppe often lack the resources to verify structural plans’ adequacy. Steele suggests implementing independent reviews based on project type or value to ensure safety and accuracy in engineering designs.

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