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Canada's MRIA to Reopen
Canadian MR body the MRIA is to reopen in April, just eight months after declaring bankruptcy. New MR industry association CRIC warns that the relaunch will result in confusion - both in the marketplace and with regulators.
 MRIA (the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association) was formally wound down last August as a result of a 'shortfall' in its finances. By October, a new body called the Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) had been launched, and it has since partnered with ESOMAR and with the Market Research Institute International (MRII), to enhance its standards offer, global reach and network for members.
However, a number of MR agencies, public opinion firms and industry individuals - including executives from Mainstreet Research and Campaign Research - have purchased the intellectual property assets of the former MRIA, with the aim of relaunching the association with 'the same oversight role'. Members of the consortium have signed a letter which outlines a number of basic principles for the re-launched MRIA; among which is the decision to set aside a percentage of all membership and other revenues to establish a contingency fund which will help 'avoid future financial uncertainty'.
In response to the re-launch, the CRIC Board has stated that it does not endorse the new initiative. Regardless of the MRIA's re-emergence, CRIC says it will continue to promote and advocate for the industry. In a statement, CRIC explained: 'We are extremely proud of our accomplishments over the last eight months since MRIA's bankruptcy and the overwhelming support we have received from across industry. CRIC members currently represent most of the former Gold Seal members, and we will soon be growing our membership to include other corporate members as well as an additional industry partner category of members that includes academia, research buyers and media'.
Web sites: www.mria-arim.ca and www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca .
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