Bill C-4

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Royal Assent

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	45 ELIZABETH II
	CHAPTER 24
	An Act to amend the Standards Council of Canada Act
	Assented to 22th October, 1996
R.S., c. S-16; R.S., c. 1 (4th Supp.); 1988, c. 65; 1993, c. 44	Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
	*1. Section 3 of the Standards Council of Canada Act* is replaced by the following:**
Council established	3. A corporation is hereby established, to be known as the Standards Council of Canada, consisting of the following members:
	(a) a person employed in the public service of Canada to represent the Government of Canada;
	(b) the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Provincial-Territorial Advisory Committee established under subsection 20(1);
	(c) the Chairperson of the Standards Development Organizations Advisory Committee established under subsection 21(1); and
	(d) not more than eleven other persons to represent the private sector, including non-governmental organizations.
	2. The heading before section 4 of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
	MANDATE AND POWERS
	3. (1) Subsection 4(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
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.
1988, c. 65, s. 145; 1993, c. 44, s. 224(1)	(2) The portion of subsection 4(2) of the Act before paragraph (h) is replaced by the following:
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 Trade-marks 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;
	(3) Subparagraph 4(2)(h)(i) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
	(i) represent Canada as the Canadian member of the International Organization for Standardization, the International Electrotechnical Commission and any other similar international organization, and
	(4) Paragraphs 4(2)(i) to (n) of the Act are replaced by the following:
	(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.
	(5) Subsection 4(3) of the Act is replaced by the following:
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.
Definitions	(3.1) The definitions in this subsection apply in this section.
``conformity assessment'' « évaluation de la conformité »	``conformity assessment'' means any activity concerned with determining, directly or indirectly, that relevant requirements are fulfilled.
``National Standards System'' « Système national de normes »	``National Standards System'' means the system for voluntary standards development, promotion and implementation in Canada.
	4. (1) The portion of section 5 of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Further powers	5. The Council, in carrying out its mandate and exercising its powers under section 4, may
	(2) Paragraph 5(e) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
	(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.
R.S., c. 1 (4th supp.), s. 33	5. Section 6 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Appointment of members of Council	6. (1) Each member of the Council, other than the persons referred to in paragraphs 3(b) and (c), shall be appointed by the Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, to hold office during pleasure for such term not exceeding three years as 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.
Require- ments	(2) The members of the Council referred to in paragraph 3(d) 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.
No right to vote	(3) The member of the Council referred to in paragraph 3(c) is a non-voting member of the Council.
R.S., c. 1 (4th Supp.), s. 44 (Schedule II, item 21(1))	6. (1) Subsection 7(1) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
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.
	(2) Section 7 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1):
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.
	(3) Subsection 7(2) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
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.
	(4) Section 7 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):
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.
	7. Section 8 of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
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.
	8. (1) Subsection 9(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Remunera- tion of Chairperson	9. (1) The Chairperson of the Council shall be paid such remuneration as may be fixed by the Governor in Council.
	(2) Subsection 9(2) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
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.
	(3) Subsection 9(3) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Remunera- tion 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.
Compensa- tion	(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 public service of Canada.
	9. Sections 11 and 12 of the Act are replaced by the following:
Meetings	11. The Council shall meet at least once a year and may meet at such other times as it considers appropriate.
	10. Subsection 13(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
By-laws	13. (1) The Council may make by-laws for the regulation of its proceedings and generally for the conduct of its activities, including by-laws establishing
	(a) ad hoc, standing and other committees of the Council;
	(b) for the purposes of paragraphs 4(2)(d) and (d.1), criteria and procedures for the accreditation of organizations and for the revocation of such accreditations; and
	(c) a membership scheme to allow broader participation by the public in Council activities.
	11. Subsection 17(3) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Compensa- tion	(3) For the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and any regulations made pursuant to section 9 of the Aeronautics Act, the persons referred to in subsection (1) are deemed to be employed in the public service of Canada.
	12. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 19:

Bill C-4

45 ELIZABETH II

CHAPTER 24

MANDATE AND POWERS