FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1999-11-25

Standards Council of Canada Hosts Forum on International Standardization

OTTAWA - The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) hosted the first ever Canadian Forum for International Standardization (C-FIST) in Cornwall, Ontario, November 17-19, 1999. The Forum gave Canadians interested or involved in standardization the opportunity to discuss critical issues and changes affecting standardization.

The Forum addressed how the global marketplace, international standardization and changes influencing standardization are affecting all Canadians. Prominent speakers from industry, government and the standards community spoke on a variety of topics. Among the most notable were the keynote speaker, Lawrence D. Eicher, secretary general of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Peter Clark, executive director of the Standards Council and Robert Griffin, president and chief executive officer of CSA International.

In his keynote address, Mr. Eicher highlighted the strong ties that bind the ISO and Canada. "Canada is a very special member of ISO and IEC [International Electrotechnical Committee], marked by the strong leadership you provide in our organizations. The Canadian presence in ISO makes itself felt at strategic, managerial and technical levels." Mr. Eicher also praised the involvement of thousands of Canadians who have participated in international standards development and made positive contributions to world standards over more than fifty years.

Other strategic issues discussed included the care and feeding of the National Standards System, global challenges, sector and stakeholder views, sharing solutions, building Team Canada, and the use of Internet-based standards development tools.

The Standards Council of Canada is the federal Crown corporation that oversees the National Standards System. It accredits organizations that provide a variety of standards and conformity assessment services and represents Canada in international standards forums.

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