The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has released a National Position on Fair Fees, Professional Value, and Procurement, which was shaped by member experience, research, and consultation.

Over the past year, the RAIC heard from its members through surveys and facilitated discussions about fee undercutting, inappropriate risk transfer, unclear scope, price-driven procurement, and the need to communicate the value of what architects do. When the RAIC consulted on the draft earlier this year, 62 members responded, and 91.9 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the principles.

The RAIC notes that for architectural practice, architecture is a public-interest professional service and should not be procured as a commodity. Fair fees reflect scope, complexity, responsibility, risk, expertise and the resources needed to do the work competently. No single fee model suits every project, and where scope, schedule, or level of effort changes materially, architects should be entitled to an appropriate adjustment in compensation. Qualifications, competence, approach, and demonstrated value should be the primary basis for selection. Where price is considered, it should not override meaningful evaluation of capability. RFPs should define scope, risk, and contractual conditions clearly, and disclose supplementary conditions up front so firms can assess risk before committing to a fee.

The RAIC opposes uncompensated design solutions or other substantive professional work as a condition of selection. Procurement should offer real opportunities to small, emerging, and diverse practices, and fee-setting should support fair compensation, mentorship, and training across career stages. The statement does not prescribe fee levels or limit independent pricing decisions. Instead, it provides a national framework for advocacy and for the conversations architects have with clients.