2004 NSS Conference Program
Conference Program 2004
Track 1 – Fuelling the System
08:45 – 10:15, Tuesday, November 16
Canada's National Standards System (NSS) plays a unique and important role in the social and economic well being of the country. To remain relevant to Canadians, the NSS—a consensus-driven and voluntary System— is faced with numerous resource challenges, among these: how to address the rising cost of standards-related work, how to enforce and ensure the integrity of the System, as well as, how to prepare for and address demographic trends.
1.1) the Changing Face of Canada
Statistics suggest that over the next decade a significant portion of the population will reach retirement age. The exodus of baby boomers from the workforce will mean the loss of a considerable amount of knowledge and experience in many industries and sectors. Meanwhile, the generation replacing these workers faces an uphill struggle as they try to balance an increasing number of priorities. For a network like the NSS - dependent on the voluntary contributions of its skilled and dedicated members – the shift is particularly relevant as it confronts the ongoing challenge of retaining NSS membership and at the same time recruiting new participants. Preparing and adjusting to these and other major demographic trends will be discussed in this session.
1.2) Integrity, Values and Ethics
The NSS model is designed to reflect the voluntary and democratic nature of Canadian standardization work. Consensus-based and dependent on the cooperative spirit of its members, the integrity of the NSS is tied to the contributions of its many participants and partners. In these scandal-ridden times, questions of fraud and other unethical behaviour have raised the bar of public scrutiny. As with any system, transparent governance is the cornerstone of its survival. Speakers will discuss some of the challenges of governing this type of System and explore the options for mitigating risk and managing for success.
1.3) Economics of the System
Although standards are developed to be measurable, putting a price on standardization isn't always as a straightforward equation. The formula for recruiting new players into the NSS, includes taking a closer look at the fiscal implications of involvement in the process. How do the benefits of standards compare with the financial costs of developing them? Can the value of standardization be quantified and demonstrated in order to increase interest in standardization as an economic and/or social tool? This session will consider the bottom line when it comes to assigning value to standards-related work.
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Track 2 – Public Policy
10:45 – 12:15, Tuesday, November 16
Topics covered in this track will look at the evolving role for standardization in the implementation of Canadian public policy objectives.
2.1) Smart Regulation: Intelligent Choices for a Changing World
The Canadian federal government is just one of many governments across the country and around the world that has identified the need for a new approach to regulation. In particular, it has stated a desire to accelerate reform in key areas like health and safety. At the same time, it wants to streamline the regulatory process to contribute to innovation and economic growth. The thrust to innovate while reducing the financial burden associated with traditional regulatory practices has resulted in Canada's “Smart Regulation” initiative. This session will consider some of the current arguments and viewpoints on “Smart Regulation”, including the role of standardization.
2.2) Breaking Down Trade Barriers: East-West and North-South
In recent years, global trade has been a prominent topic, not only in the media but also within the NSS. It has even overshadowed some key trade issues – both between provinces and territories and, with our neighbours to the South. Although the boundaries that separate Canada's provinces and territories may seem unremarkable in comparison to international borders, inhibitors to trade between Canada's provinces and territories do exist, even as Canada has effectively removed similar obstacles internationally. Likewise, standardization-related barriers to trade with the United States persist. This session will look at the current role of standardization in a national and bilateral context and consider how standardization can be better incorporated into trade policy.
2.3) Setting Standards for Sustainable Development
How much more development can the planet endure? It's a question that can no longer be ignored. Over the last century, the rate of industrialization around the world has been astounding. The evidence of climate change and the impact of pollution on our air and water quality offer compelling proof of the cumulative impact of progress on our natural environment,. Given these facts, government and organizations are building and implementing sustainable business approaches, not only to do their part to protect the environment, but increasingly to realize competitive advantages. In this session, some of the approaches and tools being employed to build environmentally conscious, sustainable and regenerating approaches will be examined. The role of standardization in sustainable development including lifecycle standards and the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System series will be addressed.
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Track 3 – Emerging Industries and Sector Applications
13:30 – 15:00, Tuesday, November 16
We live in a constantly changing world. In order to remain relevant to Canadians, the National Standards System must continually evaluate its role in emerging industries. In this session, the issues of security technologies, alternative energies and IT will be addressed within this context.
3.1) Balancing Public Security and Individual Rights in a Volatile World
Recent events have forced Canadians to consider all too real global and domestic threats to our security, health and well-being. Techniques are being developed everyday to protect against the unthinkable and to attempt to predict the unforeseeable. As new technologies and policies are put into use, concerns are being raised about how these tools will impact our right to privacy. This session will look at the need to balance the collective safety of citizens with the individual rights of Canadians.
3.2) Employing Energy Alternatives
From smart cars to solar powered homes, alternative energy sources have moved out of the realm of science fiction and into everyday life. However, while environmental concerns and the depleting stores of non-renewable energy continues to drive development and research in the area of alternative energies, large-scale adoptions of these alternatives seem to be lagging. Although studies suggest that alternative forms of energy will result in significant cost-savings for individuals and corporations in the long-term, the initial cost of conversion appears to be one of the biggest barriers to bringing these technologies into the mainstream. Given these factors, is it realistic to expect progress in this sector anytime soon? And if so, what steps are necessary to accelerate the process?
3.3) Keeping Pace with Information Technology
The Information Technology (IT) sector has experienced its share of ups and downs in recent years, but despite the bumps, IT remains an area of rapid growth and innovation that touches new and diverse sectors of the economy everyday. To remain competitive in this environment, Canadian companies face some unique and unsettling challenges. In this session, the Canadian IT sector will be examined from the perspective of industry, government and academia. Speakers will consider the role of the NSS given that the traditional after-the-fact approach to standards development is unable to match the demands of this constantly evolving sector. Examples will be used to illustrate these issues and highlight the adjustments that must be made in Canada to meet the challenges ahead.
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Track 4 – Health and Safety
15:30 – 17:00, Tuesday, November 16
This interactive session will encourage participants to examine the role of standards in health and safety by engaging in discussions on of one of three chosen breakout topics.
Plenary Address: “Protecting Quality of Life”
As a stimulus for facilitated breakout sessions on three distinct health and safety topics, the presentation will focus on some of the more common consumer/citizen concerns. A number of myths and misconceptions that the average Canadian has about the mechanisms in place to protect their quality of life will be addressed.
4.1) Are you what you eat? – Food Safety (Breakout Session)
With so many conflicting stories in the media about food, many Canadians probably don't know what is truly safe to eat anymore, or who to go to for answers to these questions. Participants in this facilitated breakout session will consider standards issues relating to the safety of the food we eat, including: organic agriculture, genetic modification, labelling issues, and testing.
4.2) Buyer Beware! – Product Certification and Personal Safety (Breakout Session)
On almost every product we purchase there is some sort of label or mark aimed at increasing buyer confidence. But what do they really mean? Participants in this facilitated breakout session will discuss the importance of product certification, the meaning of certification marks, common misperceptions about marks, and the role of product certification in assuring our personal safety.
4.3) Got Credentials? – Personnel Certification (Breakout Session)
In a service driven economy, we put our trust in other people everyday. Whether it's a plumber, a financial advisor, or a surgeon – we want assurances that individuals have the competence to do the job properly. Participants in this facilitated breakout session will look at: the meaning of and differences between licensing and certification, the legitimacy of certifications and other misconceptions, and the significance and value of certifying the competence of workers.
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Track 5 – Partnerships and Strategic Alliances
10:15 – 11:45, Wednesday, November 17
The National Standards System is a network built on partnerships and strategic alliances. As the NSS charts a course for the future we must continue to build new relationships and foster new alliances. In this session, three case studies will be presented as positive examples of standardization partnerships at work.
5.1) Standards as a pipeline to success in the Oil and Gas Sector
The Canadian oil and gas sector is not only the source of much of Canada's own energy needs it also fuels a significant portion of the Canadian economy, especially in Western Canada. Key to the sector's successes are the numerous standardization partnerships that have resulted in increased competitiveness in the global market and a continued commitment to safety, quality and efficiency – from pipelines to offshore drilling to oil sands exploration. In this session, the Oil sector will be examined as an important example of industry initiated standardization partnerships at work in Canada.
5.2) Assuring Water Safety – a case for regulatory cooperation
In rural and urban communities all across this country, drinking water is a matter of grave concern. The tragedies in Walkerton, ON and North Battleford, SK brought a heightened public awareness to the issue of water safety in Canada and authorities have since taken a variety of steps to improve confidence in the quality of water that flows from our kitchen faucets. This session will showcase Ontario's Safe Drinking Water Act, as an example of the important partnerships being formed between the NSS and government to find effective and efficient solutions to serious problems.
5.3) Management Systems Key to Diamond Mining
Ever since the discovery of diamonds in the Northwest Territories in the early 1990s, the Canadian diamond industry has grown rapidly, leading some to compare it to the Klondike Gold Rush. While many are banking on this burgeoning sector to provide an important boost to Canada's Northern economy, this optimism is tempered by concerns about the long term environmental and social impacts of large scale mining efforts on a fragile ecosystem. Among the topics to be covered in this session is the changing relationship between aboriginal communities and companies Mining in Canada's north as well as the importance of ISO quality and environmental management systems standards in addressing the challenges they face.
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Track 6 – Canadian Standards Strategy
13:30 – 15:00, Wednesday, November 17
Since its launch in March 2000, the Canadian Standards Strategy (CSS) has provided direction and leadership on how to use standardization to best advance the social and economic well-being of Canadians in a global economy.
The Strategy's 23 implementation proposals are currently undergoing a renewal process that will culminate in the publication of an updated blueprint for the future structure of standardization activity in Canada. Consultation with NSS stakeholders including SCC Advisory Committees, consumers, accredited clients and government departments (federal & provincial / territorial) has provided a key source of updates to the Strategy.
This session will summarize the process to date, review the draft version of the revised CSS and seek additional dialogue with NSS Conference attendees. The results of these discussions will be considered as the updated CSS is prepared for final approval in December 2004 or early 2005.
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