ESOMAR Partnership for New Canadian Body CRIC

Global MR association ESOMAR has announced a strategic partnership with the newly formed Canadian Research and Insights Council (CRIC), which will adopt a localised version of the ICC/ESOMAR Code of Conduct, and take a seat on its Professional Standards Committee.

The partnership aims to ensure 'the continued integration of Canadian researchers into the global insights community'. CRIC will be given the full support of ESOMAR's Advocacy and Standards teams 'to ensure continuity of the ethical and practical data collection standards required in the region'. The two bodies will work together to ensure 'the continued value and relevance' of Canada's Certified Marketing Research Professional (CMRP) designation; and say they help former MRIA individual members to join the global body.

ESOMAR standards have formed the basis of industry standards in Canada since before the demise of CRIC's predecessor the MRIA. CRIC Board Member Nik Nanos (Chair of Nanos Research) is leading a Board Committee to 'Canadianize' the ICC/ESOMAR standards, including issues such as privacy, political polling disclosure and 'emerging concerns related to the use of data sources other than surveys'.

The global association has more than 6,000 individual and more than 600 company members, providing or commissioning data analytics and research in more than 130 countries. Its DG Finn Raben (pictured) says the deal 'highlights ESOMAR's commitment to providing support to market researchers across the globe', and adds: 'The partnership between CRIC and ESOMAR will help ensure high standards of ethical collection, use and storage of data, as well as providing support to all market researchers across Canada'.

For CRIC, Chairman Barry Watson comments: 'Alliances are important in today's environment. Cementing our already excellent partnership with ESOMAR gives CRIC a formal presence in the global marketplace. It also provides a solution for individual research practitioners in Canada that want to follow world-leading standards, have access to great networking opportunities, and a globally recognized pathway for professional development'.

CRIC now has a web site, at www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca , while ESOMAR is at www.esomar.org .