Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is looking to develop a new National Standards Strategy, and Consumers Council of Canada is taking the opportunity to ask the members of its Public Interest Network about their views on standards.

SCC gave interested parties three weeks to make submissions, announcing the Request for Proposals on October 6 with an October 27 submission deadline. The purpose of the new National Standards strategy is to “ensure Canadian standardization interests are strategically represented internationally and that the National Standards System is well positioned to assist in Canada’s economic recovery.

Standards are agreed-upon rules or guidelines to establish accepted practices, terminologies and technical requirements in different fields. They are not the same as laws, regulations or codes, though they are often referenced in those legal instruments.

The development of standards, including the supports Canadian experts need, how a national standards system can help Canada’s international competitiveness and assist in a strong economic recovery, are the focus of a new Consumers Council of Canada questionnaire, now open to the public. The questionnaire takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

The Council regularly questions participants of its Public Interest Network (PIN), which offers an opportunity fo residents of Canada to share their views about subjects the Council is considering as part of its work. Council members and PIN participants may receive free copies of the summaries the Council publishes based on its findings.

Members of the general public can purchase online Public Interest Network reports on past questionnaires through the Council’s online store.