Buying meat and produce at wholesale and retail levels, fuelling personal and commercial vehicles, lighting and heating homes and businesses, harvesting resources.
Canadians perform thousands of transactions based on measurement each day. We have confidence in the fairness and accuracy of these transactions because businesses are required by law to measure their products and services accurately—to make sure their customers get what they pay for.
This trust in marketplace transactions is essential to the health and stability of our economy. It's a trust that's been carefully developed for more than 120 years in Canada.
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The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over trade measurement in Canada; there is no overlap with any provincial or municipal authority. The laws that govern measurement-based transactions—the Weights and Measures Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act—are administered solely by Measurement Canada, an agency of Industry Canada.
Measurement Canada's programs and services help ensure equity and accuracy when goods and services are bought and sold on the basis of measurement. The goal: to uphold confidence in the fairness and efficiency of Canada's marketplace—for both consumers and businesses.
Measurement Canada's laboratories evaluate and certify all prototype measuring devices like scales, gasoline pumps, electricity meters, volume-measuring devices and gas meters. To gain approval for use in Canada, these devices must pass stringent tests to demonstrate their capability to measure accurately while in use.
The laboratories maintain many physical measurement standards that are traceable to the original prototypes, such as the international kilogram standard, which is kept in France.
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Before use, all approved measuring devices must be inspected and certified. Follow-up inspections verify that each device continues to measure accurately and is used correctly. When a device is found to be measuring improperly, it is the owner's legal responsibility to have it repaired. Follow-up inspections ensure that the problems have been corrected.
Measurement Canada inspectors work in communities across the country. These highly qualified individuals play a vital role, carefully evaluating and certifying everything from electricity meters to truck scales.
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The Canadian marketplace is continually changing and growing. Measuring devices are also growing in number, variety, sophistication and application. In response to increasing service demands, Measurement Canada has developed programs that grant qualified organizations—known as authorized service providers—the authority to certify the accuracy of measuring devices and measurement standards. Measurement Canada oversees the work of these organizations, continually monitoring their performance and taking corrective action when necessary.
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Although fairness and accuracy are hallmarks of Canada's measurement system, consumers and businesses may sometime feel they have received inaccurate measurements. For example, customers may think that their energy bills do not reflect their actual electricity, natural gas or home-heating oil consumption. A measuring device that's in poor condition, installed incorrectly or tampered with, could yield inaccurate results. In these and other cases, Measurement Canada will investigate and undertake corrective action.
The agency also represents Canada on the world stage, demonstrating leadership through ongoing participation in international forums and technical committees developing model laws. These laws are increasingly used by Canada's international trading partners as the basis for their regulations and requirements. Measurement Canada's efforts help align Canada with global measurement standards, reducing trade barriers and boosting economic competitiveness.
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An agency with a proud history and a bright future, Measurement Canada is committed to ensuring equity, fairness and accuracy in Canadian measurement.
Canadians can depend on it.
To learn more about Measurement Canada, visit our website at www.mc.ic.gc.ca.