Purpose
This document defines the commitments, practices and tools used by the Canadian Dairy Commission to provide Canadians and businesses with information and guidance on regulatory obligations that must be met. It also sets out the conditions governing written responses to questions asked.
Organizational context
The Commission is responsible for regulatory instruments under the Canadian Dairy Commission Act. The Commission’s regulatory instruments serve mostly to align the supply of Canadian dairy products with total demand by setting the federal quota, determining the fees payable and offering marketing opportunities to Canadian dairy sector stakeholders.
Predictability
The Commission is committed to answering regulatory questions in a timely manner and to providing useful, consistent and client-focused answers to regulatory interpretation questions. Responses will be issued in the form in which questions are received (e.g. written response to a written question).
Plain language commitment
Responses to regulatory questions will be issued in the official language in which the question was posed. The Commission ensures that regulatory information and responses to questions about regulations are clear, relevant, objective, easy to understand and useful.
Providing guidance and building awareness
The Commission’s website includes resource/reference materials on its programs. The Commission’s Frequently Asked Questions are posted at the following link
http://www.cdc-ccl.gc.ca/CDC/index-eng.php?id=3854. Since the Commission’s regulations focus mainly on implementing programs and marketing opportunities for Canadian dairy sector stakeholders, the Commission fosters awareness by informing key audiences of its programs and services. In particular, the communication approaches used by the Commission include web content, newsletters, press releases, exhibitions, trade shows, seminars and social media (
Twitter).
Responding to questions
The Commission is committed to answering regulatory questions consistent with the service commitments below.
In addition, general regulatory requests from stakeholders are received at
Regulation-Reglementation@agr.gc.ca or 613 792-2000 (the Commission’s general information telephone line). Regulatory questions received are transferred to the qualified regulatory analyst for response.
Verbal or email responses to regulatory questions are not considered legally binding. Written responses on interpretation are binding on the Commission if all the facts have been submitted, are accurate and remain unchanged overall. Moreover, the interpretation applies only to the party requesting the interpretation.
Service
Service commitment
The Commission is committed to providing high quality services when answering questions on regulatory interpretation, because we understand the dairy industry’s significance for our economy and our communities.
The Commission is focused on its clients and accountable to its stakeholders. We make a point of honour to provide timely, accurate information. We strive to meet the following service standards when answering questions related to regulatory interpretation.
Under normal circumstances:
Respond to initial information requests by email within two (2) working days;
Respond to initial information requests by telephone within one (1) working day.
Depending on the complexity of a question, receipt of a written response on regulatory interpretation may take 30 days or more. Requests for a written response on interpretation must be submitted to the Commission in writing.
Mechanisms to track errors and address problems
Online requests for information on Commission regulations, received at
Regulation-Reglementation@agr.gc.ca, are monitored and forwarded to the qualified regulatory analyst for response. Online requests for information about Commission regulations received at the Commission’s general email address (
cdc-ccl@cdc-ccl.gc.ca) and telephone requests for information are monitored by Commission employees and forwarded to the qualified regulatory analyst for response. The regulatory analyst resolves mistakes and problems case by case.
Staff training
The Commission provides ongoing support to its employees by providing them with the necessary training to deliver high quality, professional services and to provide information on regulatory requirements.
Stakeholder engagement
Commitment to engage stakeholders
The Commission is committed to engaging stakeholders, where appropriate, to develop, review or refine practices and materials for communication and guidance designed to ensure compliance with regulations and answer questions.
Stakeholder engagement practices
The Commission will continue to seek stakeholder feedback on regulatory issues, including the Regulatory Interpretation Policy, through its website and existing stakeholder communication mechanisms.
Improvements
The Commission is committed to constantly improving the services it provides to Canadians.
Early in 2015, the Commission sought feedback from stakeholders on how it could improve its regulatory interpretation practices. The stakeholders stated that dissemination of major documents on milk supply management would constitute a priority improvement.
Improvement priorities
The Commission has developed a standing policies compendium for the Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee (CMSMC) that is updated annually before December 31. This exhaustive document includes the National Milk Marketing Plan (the “Plan”), a detailed description of the other dairy industry federal and provincial agreements, and all decisions made on the Plan since its creation.
Timeline
The standing policies compendium has been available to CMSMC and dairy industry members through the Commission’s members’ website since July 2014. In response to comments received during the 2015 consultations, the Commission has strengthened its communications with CMSMC and dairy industry members to inform them of the availability of this document.
Send us your feedback
Email the Regulatory Policy Coordination Office your feedback on the Commission’s regulatory interpretation practices to
Regulation-Reglementation@agr.gc.ca.
For more information
For more information on current or future consultations on proposed federal regulations, see the
Canada Gazette or the website .
