August 04, 2008- The Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council has been working towards obtaining ISO 9001:2000 certification over the past nine (9) months. The Scope of our Registration is to "Increase public understanding and awareness of resource and oceans management issues within the Mi’gmaq district of Gespe’gewa'gi: while working to preserve and enhance natural and cultural resources."

Based on the successful results of our recent Registration Audit, it has been determined that the management system of the Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council is effectively implemented and meets the requirement of the ISO 9001:2000 standard relative to the scope of registration, therefore, a recommendation for registration has been submitted to QMI-SAI Global’s review team.

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO Member bodies). International Standard ISO 9001 focuses specifically on Quality Management Systems, which enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.

ISO 9001:2000 is the International Standard that specifies requirements for a Quality Management System where an organization:

a) needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide a product that meets customer and applicable regulatory requirements, and

b) aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable regulatory requirements.

Note: In this International Standard, the term ‘product’ applies only to the product intended for, or required by, a customer.

The Quality Management System developed within the GMRC is process driven, and emphasizes the importance of understanding and meeting customer requirements; the need to consider processes in terms of added value; obtaining results of process performance and effectiveness, and; continual improvement of processes based on objective measurement.

The benefit to our customers, stakeholders and partners is the assurance of the continual improvement of the organization’s overall performance and efficiency, as well as its effectiveness.

The Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council anticipates receiving formal certification within the next 4 to 5 weeks based on the recommendations of the audit.