New Canadian research body edges closer to opening

Following a recent board meeting in Toronto, the organisation outlined how it plans to open up its membership to the industry. Agencies that were previously a Gold Seal member of the MRIA will be able to apply to become a CRIC member and will be given a one-year ‘grace period’ in which they will need to undertake the CRIC certification process.

Other organisations interested in becoming a member will be required to become certified prior to being considered.

Membership will comprise two categories – Class A voting shares will be reserved for ‘Accredited Members’ – who must be incorporated and have been accredited, although the certification process is yet to be developed.

A second category, Class B, will be reserved for non-voting ‘Associate Members’, open to users of research, such as buyers, media, government and academia.

The association will also be open to suppliers to research companies, but further details on this type of membership have not been shared.

Board members also agreed on the purpose of the organisation, which was outlined as: “to develop and approve market and research standards and supportive programs; provide effective promotion and advocacy for the market and insights research industry; serve as a source of information for the industry; and be a forum for collective industry action.”

Additionally, CRIC will “provide membership to research organisations and industry partners who share the purpose of the Corporation and meet criteria established by the Board of the Corporation”.

The association will incorporate the polling standards of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR), in addition to Esomar standards as it announced previously.

The board also re-appointed Barry Watson of Environics as chair and CRA’s Don Mills as co-chair. Gary Bennewies of Ipsos was appointed secretary treasurer.

The board intends to hold its first open board meeting in the first quarter of 2019.