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A Message from the Minister
of Public Works and Government Services Canada
On
the Occasion of the 65th Anniversary of the Canadian General
Standards Board
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| The Honourable Alfonso Gagliano |
Through its work to produce standards for products and services,
develop listings and register systems, the Canadian General
Standards Board (CGSB) of Public Works and Government Services
Canada contributes to the growth and health of our nation
in many areas including health and safety, quality, international
trade, competitiveness, energy conservation and environmental
protection.
The roots of this organization's proud history stretch back
to June 13, 1934, when the Canadian Government Purchasing
Standards Committee was established with a mandate to set
standards for supplies acquired by the federal government.
Following its reorganization in 1948 as the Canadian Government
Specifications Board, it invited industry experts to join
its key committees, leading to the "balanced committee" structure
that still characterizes the work of the CGSB today. Developing
standards by consensus reflects Canada's commitment to fairness
and our respect for a diversity of perspectives.
In the late 1970s, the Board increased its service to Canadians
by ensuring a more rigorous examination of products and related
manufacturing facilities through the implementation of its
Certification Listing Program.
The Board was renamed the Canadian General Standards Board
in 1980. The new name reflects the rapid growth of its business
within government and also with the private sector. And in
a world of constant change, the CGSB has been moving with
the times, becoming, in 1993, one of the first three Canadian
organizations accredited by the Standards Council of Canada
as an ISO 9000 registrar and, more recently, accredited to
register companies to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management
System.
It is with great pride that I congratulate the CGSB staff
on the organization's 65th anniversary as the government's
leading quality-assurance organization. I am confident that
all Canadians will continue to benefit from the CGSB's commitment
to excellence as we move into the next millennium.
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