The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is delighted to participate in the celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation. Each month in 2017, we will feature stories about standardization and SCC’s progressive leadership to deliver innovative standardization solutions and how they have helped to shape Canada’s history. Access the complete series of articles about Canada's Leadership in Standardization: Celebrating Canada 150.
Canada was a founding member in 1947 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) – the world’s largest developer of voluntary international standards. With the formation of the SCC in 1970, Canada was in a better position to coordinate, facilitate and more actively participate in the organization. Since then, SCC’s reputation in standardization has grown significantly, and it is now recognized as an international leader and trusted advisor in standardization. In 1988, the first Canadian was appointed to lead ISO.
When SCC was formed, in part to increase participation in international standardization, Canada relied heavily on U.S., European and other international standards. Canadian government officials increasingly recognized the value of engaging in standards development and understood the tremendous economic and social benefits to Canada that standardization could deliver. Increasing Canada’s involvement in standardization was also a means of facilitating trade to help support Canadian manufacturers and exporters.
Recognizing the value of participation, SCC worked to increase the number of international subcommittee and working group secretariat positions held by Canada – nearly tripling them from six to 17 in its first two years. During that time, Canada was appointed to the ISO Governing Council as well – a position it then held for several terms. Canada was also appointed secretariat and chair of a newly created technical committee: ISO/TC 155 Nickel and Nickel Alloys. In 1982, Canada hosted the ISO General Assembly for the first time, in Toronto.
Then, in 1988, Roy Phillips, former President of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (one of Canada’s largest industry and trade associations) as well as a member of the Standards Council of Canada’s Executive Committee, became the first Canadian to be appointed ISO President. That appointment helped to solidify Canada’s role as an international leader in standardization.
More recently, SCC’s Chief Executive Officer, John Walter, became President-elect of ISO on January 1, 2017. His two-year term as ISO President begins on January 1, 2018. Mr. Walter recently served as ISO Vice-President (Policy), a position that he held since 2014. His duties in this role included leadership of ISO’s Strategy and Policy Committee, supporting implementation of the ISO strategic plan, and ensuring effective communication on strategic issues between ISO and its stakeholders. These leadership positions enable SCC to have a voice in important international discussions and ensure Canada’s interests are represented.
Today, SCC continues to increase the number of Canada’s leadership positions on the international standardization stage. With well over 100 such positions to date, Canada is among the top countries represented at that level on international committees at ISO. Adopting such a significant leadership role in international standards strengthens Canada’s reputation on the world stage, ensures the interests of our industries are represented, and benefits the economic and social well-being of all Canadians.
As SCC prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020, we continue to recognize the importance of holding leadership positions in priority areas – both in Canada and on the international stage. This is one of the important ways SCC continues to influence the development of international standards that benefit Canadians.
Canada's Leadership in Standardization: Celebrating Canada 150
SCC’s work in support of standards alignment is critical if trade agreements like NAFTA are to reach their full potential in increasing trade.
Standards are part of the essential foundation that supports a country’s economic and social prosperity.