Canada
Codes writing organizations:
Canadian Standards Association (CSA) - non-profit organization
National Research Council of Canada (NRC) - federal crown corporation
Standards development organizations:
BNQ (Bureau de Normalisation du Quebec) - part of a non-profit agency of the Quebec
provincial government
CGA (Canadian Gas Association)
CGSB (Canadian General Standards Board) - directorate within the Department of Public
Works Canada
CSA (Canadian Standards Association)
ULC (Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada)
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), a federal crown corporation, is responsible for
accrediting standards development organizations. The Standards Council of Canada
coordinates The National Standards System (NSS) which comprises some 230 government
and private sector standards organizations. The organizations include standards development,
testing, certification and quality systems registration organizations. In addition, the NSS
includes some 14,000 volunteers who participate in national and international standards
activities.
In December 1, 1995 Industry Minister John Manley introduced a bill to amend the Standards
Council of Canada Act. The proposed changes are designed to modernize the organization and
make the Council leaner, more efficient and more accountable. Under the proposals the size
of the Council will be reduced from 57 member to 15, there will be one federal representative
and two provincial-territorial members. The balance will comprise representatives from
consumer, business and professional organizations and associations, and the standards
community.
The ongoing priority of the Standards Council will be to promote voluntary standardization
in Canada. At the same time, the mandate of the Council will be expanded to reflect the
policy priorities identified in the consultation process as well as those outlined in
Building A More Innovative Economy, including regulatory reform, technology diffusion,
international trade, and internal trade. Standards initiatives over the next four years
are aimed at improving industry and consumer access to relevant information on standards,
and strengthening the capacity of the Council to provide strategic support to a proposed
provincial-territorial advisory committee and industry-driven standardization initiatives.