Government Operations Committee on May 5th, 2015

[Michel Girard]

—then yes, we need standards that are adapted to our particular context, but inside a home, what is so different in Canada, in terms of our showers, that we require something different from a marketplace of 350 million people in the U.S.? I remain to be convinced of that.

[Guy Lauzon, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Actually, you know, I think our quality of life here in Canada and the quality of our products, the quality of our production.... I refer to agriculture. We make some of the best agricultural products in the world. I don't think Canada has to worry about the quality of our production of goods and/or the production of our food or anything. I think we can live up to just about any standards internationally.

Is that a fair statement?

[Michel Girard]

We use international and regional standards. That's the reason Canadian manufacturers are able to connect to global supply chains. So from that perspective, yes.

[Guy Lauzon, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Somebody else mentioned that our marketplace is worldwide. It's the world. It's no longer even North America.

Can we satisfy the international standards, if you will, around the world, in the way we're operating here in Canada?

[Michel Girard]

I would say yes, to a point.

Given the scale of activity, we need to be strategic in where we invest our limited resources to make sure that the critical standards we need reflect our industry, our concerns, and our processes. That's the challenge for us.

[Guy Lauzon, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Can you elaborate a little on that?

Can you give me an example?

[Michel Girard]

About four years ago, under the clean air agenda, SCC accessed additional funds to develop standards to help northern communities adapt to a changing climate. There were no international standards for managing homes when the permafrost melts. It did not exist; there was no need.

We put money on the table. We issued an RFP, a request for proposal, and all of the accredited SDOs were able to compete in order to get the contract. CSA was able to deliver the contract. They've now issued standards for snow loads in the north, for permafrost melting, and for thermosiphons, which are tools you use to keep the permafrost frozen, and even for community drainage systems.

We are world leaders now, and I think that eventually you'll see these standards being reflected internationally as well. That's what we need to do in this country. We need to use our limited resources and focus on critical areas, and agree and accept to be standards-takers in areas where there's no additional risk. This way, we all win.

There's credibility in the system. It is invisible to most people, but it's there.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Mr. Girard, you are out of time.

[Michel Girard]

You don't worry about your elevator in the morning. You don't worry about getting shocked when you flick the switch on. That's a given. Yet, that's what the standards system does for us.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

I'll have to stop you there.

Thank you, Mr. Lauzon. You're well over your time.

Next, for the Liberal party, is Mr. Mauril Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Girard, what are the standards around standards accessibility?

[Michel Girard]

The standards for standards accessibility?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I'm referring to the public's access to standards.

[Michel Girard]

Standards are posted on the websites of the various organizations that develop and maintain them. The trend—

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Is that mandatory?

[Michel Girard]

Mandatory?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Is that mandatory?

[Michel Girard]

How do you mean?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Do the groups you established have to post them online?

[Michel Girard]

Absolutely. It's mandatory.

With the current trend, we're seeing more and more SDOs making their entire catalogue accessible online in view-only format. On the CSA's website, for example, people can consult standards page by page, without having to purchase them. They make the essential information on the standard available online.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Does that mean outdated standards are also accessible?

[Michel Girard]

Yes. Outdated standards that are in an organization's catalogue are accessible until the technical committee decides they are no longer useful. Then, they are withdrawn. People can go to the public library to consult old standards that have been withdrawn from the market.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

When an SDO submits a proposal to create a standard but one or two other organizations have an interest in doing that as well, what happens? How do you decide which SDO will develop the standard?

[Michel Girard]

Currently, SDOs are asked to consult and to figure out, through consensus, which organization will develop a given standard.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

And if there's no consensus?