Standards Council of Canada Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. S-16)

Short Title

Marginal note:Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Standards Council of Canada Act.

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

2 In this Act,

Council

Council means the Standards Council of Canada established by section 3; (Conseil)

Minister

Minister means such member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as is designated by the Governor in Council as the Minister for the purposes of this Act. (ministre)

Council Established

Marginal note:Council established

3 A corporation is hereby established, to be known as the Standards Council of Canada, consisting of the following members:

• (a) the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Provincial-Territorial Advisory Committee established under subsection 20(1);

• (b) the Chairperson of the Standards Development Organizations Advisory Committee established under subsection 21(1); and

• (c) not more than 10 other persons to represent the private sector, including non-governmental organizations.

• (d) [Repealed, 2010, c. 12, s. 1769]

Mandate and Powers

Marginal note:Mandate

• 4 (1) The mandate of the Council is to promote efficient and effective voluntary standardization in Canada, where standardization is not expressly provided for by law and, in particular, to

  • (a) promote the participation of Canadians in voluntary standards activities,

  • (b) promote public-private sector cooperation in relation to voluntary standardization in Canada,

  • (c) coordinate and oversee the efforts of the persons and organizations involved in the National Standards System,

  • (d) foster quality, performance and technological innovation in Canadian goods and services through standards-related activities, and

  • (e) develop standards-related strategies and long-term objectives,

  in order to advance the national economy, support sustainable development, benefit the health, safety and welfare of workers and the public, assist and protect consumers, facilitate domestic and international trade and further international cooperation in relation to standardization.

• Marginal note:Powers

  (2) The Council, in carrying out its mandate, may

  • (a) promote cooperation among organizations concerned with voluntary standardization in Canada in order to coordinate standardization activities and develop common standards and codes;

  • (b) promote cooperation between organizations concerned with voluntary standardization in Canada and departments and agencies of government at all levels in Canada with a view to achieving compatibility and maximum common usage of standards and codes;

  • (c) establish or recommend criteria and procedures relating to the preparation, approval, acceptance and designation of voluntary standards in Canada;

  • (d) accredit, in accordance with criteria and procedures adopted by the Council, organizations in Canada or in a country designated by an order made under subsection (4) that are engaged in conformity assessment, and maintain a record of those accredited organizations and of their marks of conformity;

  • (d.1) accredit, in accordance with criteria and procedures adopted by the Council, organizations in Canada that are engaged in standards development, and maintain a record of those accredited organizations and of their marks that relate to standardization;

  • (e) approve standards submitted by organizations accredited by the Council as national standards where appropriate, and maintain an index of approved standards;

  • (f) provide for the identification and evaluation of the need for new standards, revisions to existing standards and additional conformity assessment services, and arrange for that need to be satisfied

    • (i) by obtaining the cooperation of organizations accredited by the Council, and

    • (ii) where that need cannot be satisfied in the manner described in subparagraph (i), by promoting the establishment or utilization of new or other organizations for that purpose;

  • (g) establish and register under the Trademarks Act its own marks and authorize and regulate their use, subject to that Act and any agreement or arrangement between the Council and any organization accredited by it respecting the use of the marks in relation to standards developed by that organization;

  • (g.1) provide advice and assistance to the Government of Canada in the negotiation of standards-related aspects of international trade agreements;

  • (h) unless otherwise provided for by any other Act of Parliament or by treaty,

    • (i) represent Canada as the Canadian member of the International Organization for Standardization, the International Electrotechnical Commission and any other similar international organization, and

    • (ii) ensure effective Canadian participation in the activities of those organizations;

  • (i) promote, in cooperation with Canadian organizations engaged in voluntary standards development and conformity assessment, arrangements with organizations similarly engaged in other countries for the exchange of information and for cooperation in those activities, or enter into such arrangements on its own behalf;

  • (j) provide financial assistance to Canadians and to Canadian organizations concerned with voluntary standardization to assist them in meeting national and international requirements;

  • (k) collect and distribute, by electronic or any other means, information on standards and standardization activities in and outside Canada and translate that information;

  • (l) promote the use of standards approved by the Council; and

  • (m) make recommendations to the Minister on standards-related matters, including voluntary standards that are appropriate for incorporation by reference in any law, which recommendations may be included in the annual report of the Council.

  • (n) [Repealed, 1996, c. 24, s. 3]

• Marginal note:Use of existing services and facilities

  (3) In carrying out its mandate and exercising its powers, the Council shall, to the greatest extent practicable, make use of the services and facilities of existing organizations in Canada engaged in standards development and conformity assessment and consider all alternatives before providing any new service.

• Marginal note:Definitions

  (3.1) The definitions in this subsection apply in this section.

  conformity assessment

  conformity assessment means any activity concerned with determining, directly or indirectly, that relevant requirements are fulfilled. (évaluation de la conformité)

  National Standards System

  National Standards System means the system for voluntary standards development, promotion and implementation in Canada. (Système national de normes)

• Marginal note:Orders

  (4) The Governor in Council may, by order, designate any country for the purposes of paragraph (2)(d).

Marginal note:Further powers

5 The Council, in carrying out its mandate and exercising its powers under section 4, may

• (a) expend, for the purposes of this Act, any money appropriated by Parliament for the work of the Council or received by the Council through the conduct of its operations;

• (b) acquire and hold real property or immovables or any interest or right in them and dispose of that real property or those immovables or interest or right at pleasure;

• (c) acquire any money, securities or other property by gift, bequest or otherwise, and expend, administer or dispose of any such money, securities or other property, subject to the terms, if any, on which the acquisition is made;

• (d) publish and sell or otherwise distribute information on standardization; and

• (e) do such other things as are incidental or conducive to the fulfilment of the mandate and the exercise of the powers of the Council.

Organization

Marginal note:Appointment of members

• 6 (1) Each member of the Council, other than the persons referred to in paragraphs 3(a) and (b), shall be appointed by the Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, to hold office during pleasure for a term not exceeding four years in such a manner that will ensure, as far as possible, the expiration in any one year of the terms of office of not more than one half of the members.

• Marginal note:Requirements

  (2) The members of the Council referred to in paragraph 3(c) must be representative of a broad spectrum of interests in the private sector and have the knowledge or experience necessary to assist the Council in the fulfilment of its mandate.

• Marginal note:No right to vote

  (3) The member of the Council referred to in paragraph 3(b) is a non-voting member of the Council.

Marginal note:Designation of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson

• 7 (1) A Chairperson of the Council and a Vice-Chairperson of the Council shall each be designated by the Governor in Council from among the members of the Council to hold office during pleasure for such term as the Governor in Council considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Duties of Chairperson

  (1.1) The Chairperson shall preside at meetings of the Council and shall perform such other duties as are assigned to the Chairperson by the Council or the by-laws of the Council.

• Marginal note:Acting Chairperson

  (2) If the Chairperson of the Council is absent or unable to act or the office of Chairperson is vacant, the Vice-Chairperson of the Council shall act as Chairperson.

• Marginal note:Acting Chairperson

  (3) If both the Chairperson of the Council and the Vice-Chairperson of the Council are absent or unable to act, or if both those offices are vacant, a member designated by the members of the Council shall act as Chairperson.

Marginal note:Re-appointment

8 A retiring Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson or other member of the Council is eligible for re-appointment to the Council in the same or another capacity.

Marginal note:Remuneration of Chairperson

• 9 (1) The Chairperson of the Council shall be paid such remuneration as may be fixed by the Governor in Council.

• Marginal note:Travel and living expenses

  (2) The members of the Council, other than the Chairperson of the Council, shall serve without remuneration but each member is entitled to be paid reasonable travel and other expenses while absent from the member’s ordinary place of residence in the course of the member’s duties under this Act.

• Marginal note:Remuneration of members for additional duties

  (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a member of the Council other than the Chairperson of the Council may, for any period during which the member performs with the approval of the Council any duties on behalf of the Council in addition to the member’s ordinary duties as a member, be paid such remuneration as may be fixed by the Governor in Council.

• Marginal note:Compensation

  (4) For the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and any regulations made pursuant to section 9 of the Aeronautics Act, the members of the Council are deemed to be employed in the federal public administration.