In Canada, we set standards independent of influence from individuals, organizations, and governments to serve the public interest.
To set standards independently and in the public interest, our Boards follow a due process – an established set of practices used to make decisions when developing, updating, or adopting standards.
The due process is based on the following key principles:
- Transparency: Decisions and reasons are made public through meeting summaries and bases for conclusions documents that outline how a Board came to its conclusions.
- Consultation: Decisions are made after consulting with those affected by a new or updated standard through a variety of methods. Documents for comment are also issued, which provide details on the proposed new or updated standard.
- Accountability: Standards are approved after assessing the feedback received while engaging with those affected by the new or updated standard. This includes analyzing the standard’s effect on those who will eventually use it. Each Board is also monitored by an Oversight Council, which ensures another layer of accountability.