Order Amending the Designation of Countries (Standards Council of Canada) Order (Miscellaneous Program): SI/2020-47

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 154, Number 14

Registration

SI/2020-47 July 8, 2020

STANDARDS COUNCIL OF CANADA ACT

P.C. 2020-498 June 25, 2020

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Industry, pursuant to subsection 4(4) footnote a of the Standards Council of Canada Act footnote b, makes the annexed Order Amending the Designation of Countries (Standards Council of Canada) Order (Miscellaneous Program).

Order Amending the Designation of Countries (Standards Council of Canada) Order (Miscellaneous Program)

Amendment

1 Paragraph 2(d) of the Designation of Countries (Standards Council of Canada) Order footnote 1 is replaced by the following:

Coming into Force

2 This Order comes into force on the day on which section 2 of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement Implementation Act, chapter 1 of the Statutes of Canada 2020, comes into force, but if it is registered after that day, it comes into force on the day on which it is registered.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

To make consequential amendments to the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) to replace references to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in the Designation of Countries (Standards Council of Canada) Order (SI/93-255).

Objective

The amendments have the following objectives:

Background

On September 30, 2018, Canada, the United States and Mexico announced the completion of negotiations toward a revised North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Following more than a year of negotiations, the three countries reached important outcomes in key areas, including market access, rules of origin for automotive manufacturing, agriculture, labour, environment, intellectual property rights, culture, and dispute settlement. This outcome is expected to strengthen the trilateral commercial relationship and provide much-needed stability and predictability for Canadian businesses and workers. The Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) was signed by all Parties at Buenos Aires on November 30, 2018, and it was amended by the Protocol of Amendment to the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States on December 10, 2019. An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States obtained royal assent on March 13, 2020, and Canada ratified CUSMA on April 2, 2020.

The Designation of Countries (Standards Council of Canada) Order (the Order) establishes the countries in which the Standards Council of Canada may carry out its mandate of accrediting organizations that are engaged in conformity assessment.

Implications

The Order is amended to replace the reference to “NAFTA” with “CUSMA.” This amendment ensures that the Standards Council of Canada is able to accredit organizations in the United States and Mexico that are engaged in conformity assessment.

Consultation

These are miscellaneous amendments consequential to the ratification of CUSMA and are exempt from the requirement to consult.

Departmental contact

Erin Campbell
Director
Patent Policy Directorate
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Telephone: 343‑291‑1697
Email: erin.campbell2@canada.ca