The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is proud to appoint the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) as the new secretariat of the ISO Technical Committee (TC) behind the world’s most widely used family of standards. ISO/TC 176 Quality management and quality assurance is responsible for developing the ISO 9000 Quality Management series of standards. Transition of the secretariat role from SCC to CGSB will be finalized by January 2021.
Transcript for the video
CGSB requirements – Descriptive transcript
Start of video
[Headshots of a woman and a man appear on screen with text of their titles under their images]
(Text on screen under image of the woman: Mkabi Walcott - VP, Standards & International Relations Standards Council of Canada)
(Text on screen under image of the man: Nicholas Trudel - Director General Canadian General Standards Board)
(Larger text on screen under both images and titles: SCC appoints CGSB as international secretariat for ISO flagship committee on quality management)
[Close-up video of a woman speaking appears on screen]
(Text on screen: Mkabi Walcott - VP, Standards & International Relations Standards Council of Canada)
Hi, I’m Mkabi Walcott, Vice President of Standards and International Relations at the Standards Council of Canada.
We, at the SCC, are Canada’s respected voice for standards and accreditation on the world stage. We represent Canada at the International Organization for Standardization, also known as ISO.
We are thrilled to announce that a new Canadian standards development organization will lead one of ISO’s high-profile technical committees. The Canadian General Standards Board is the new secretariat for the technical committee that develops quality management standards. We will hear from Nicholas Trudel, Director General of CGSB shortly.
Standards are vital for developing businesses and allowing them to prosper. Using standards increases the new opportunities to the global market. Quality management standards, in particular, give organizations the framework to meet the demands of customers, government regulators and other stakeholders.
The family of quality management standards, also known as ISO 9000 series, are the world’s most popular and widely used. They are the gold standards for managing quality of goods and services.
Canada has a long history of contributing to the committee behind ISO 9000. The fact that Canada continues to serve in this leadership role is a sign of our country’s enduring influence in shaping the future of international standardization.
I’m delighted to turn it over to Nicholas Trudel, Director General of CGSB.
[Close-up video of a man appears on screen]
(Text on screen: Nicholas Trudel - Director General Canadian General Standards Board)
Thank you, Mkabi. Hello everyone! We at the Canadian General Standards Board are pleased to be here today to join the Standards Council of Canada with this exciting announcement.
I’m proud to say that CGSB, as a federal organization, has been producing standards for over 85 years. CGSB was originally designed to support the federal government with specifications for procurement needs and has since grown to become a national leader in developing standards solutions for Canadians and Canadian businesses. We work on many subject areas. Some examples include: building-related standards, such as radon mitigation; standards for the transportation of dangerous goods; and organic agriculture and aquaculture standards. CGSB is even responsible for the National Flag of Canada standards.
Part of the role which we assume in undertaking standardization work, is that we are able to represent our country and lend a Canadian voice at the international level to help shape standards on a global scale.
With this new role in managing the international secretariat at ISO for the development of quality management standards, Canada will not only have the opportunity to participate in this well respected Technical Committee, but will also hold a leadership position in guiding the work done by 120 nations.
I am delighted of the collaboration between the SCC and CGSB in ensuring that Canada is well positioned to continue this leadership role, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing CGSB collaborate internationally at the forefront of quality management.
[Government of Canada signature appears]
[Canada Wordmark appears]
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Quality management systems enable businesses to meet the requirements and expectations of customers and interested parties. Any organization, of any size and in any sector, can use ISO 9000 to strengthen its quality management system and secure a competitive edge. ISO/TC 176 is comprised of technical experts from 120 countries and the standards developed by this committee contribute to attaining several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“The SCC is delighted that CGSB is undertaking the role of secretariat and we look forward to supporting them as the work transitions,” said Dr. Mkabi Walcott, Vice President, Standards & International Relations of SCC. “The enduring presence of Canadian leadership within influential standards committees such as this, is a testament to the value that our country brings to shaping the future of standards on the world stage.”
Canada has played a key leadership role in ISO/TC 176 since its inception in 1979. At the beginning of 2020, the SCC took over direct management of the secretariat while looking for a new organization to lead on behalf of Canada. CGSB showed an early interest in assuming this leadership opportunity, as it recognizes the value of Canada continuing in this role.
“CGSB’s unique status, as a Standards Development Organization positioned within the federal government, will provide an opportunity for both the public and private sectors to jointly elevate Canada’s critical role in helping to move the quality agenda forward in Canada and abroad” said Nicholas Trudel, Director General of CGSB. “CGSB has broad experience in managing international secretariats and is looking forward to taking on this new role. This appointment will supplement the other international secretariats that CGSB already manages.”
About the Standards Council of Canada
Established in 1970 as a federal Crown corporation, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is Canada’s voice on standards and accreditation on the national and international stage. SCC works closely with a vast network of partners to promote the development of effective and efficient standards that protect the health, safety and well-being of Canadians while helping businesses prosper. As Canada’s leading accreditation organization, SCC creates market confidence at home and abroad by ensuring that conformity assessment bodies meet the highest national and international standards. SCC advances Canada’s interest on the international scene as a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) by connecting thousands of people to global networks and resources, opening a world of possibilities for Canadians and businesses.
About the General Standards Board (CGSB)
The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) is a federal government organization that offers client-centred, comprehensive standards development and conformity assessment services in support of the economic, regulatory, procurement, health, safety and environmental interests of our stakeholders—government, industry and consumers. To learn more, visit the CGSB website.