History of the Canadian Jewellers Association

On Nov. 15, 1884 the Jewellers Security Alliance of Canada, the forerunner for the Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA), was founded in Toronto. Its purpose was to help jewellers strengthen their security measure, generally discourage jewellery store theft and uphold the following purposes and objectives:

1. To promote close co-operation among members.
2. To disseminate information on legislation affecting the trade.
3. To protect members against unbusinesslike methods and inculcate a Code of Ethics.
4. To reform abuses in the trade.
5. To obtain freedom from unjust and unlawful exactations.
6. To diffuse accurate information among members in the customs and usages of the trade.
7. To settle differences between members by arbitration or otherwise, and promote friendly intercourse between members and various branches of the trade.

On June 4, 1918 the CJA gathered for its first official meeting and in 1921 established a Code of Ethics for its members. Since then, the CJA has updated its Code of Ethics to reflect the changes in the sale and service of jewellery. All members of the CJA are responsible for the following:

Members of the Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA) are committed to the highest industry ethics and social responsibility, and therefore agree to:

• Maintain the highest level of personal integrity, honesty and business ethics
• Comply with all laws and government regulations as they apply to the Canadian jewellery and watch industry  *
• Provide quality products and services
• Follow business practices that do not mislead or deceive clients
• Provide knowledgeable and competent expertise, and undertake to maintain current professional education and training
• Accurately describe the true quality, nature and authenticity of products offered for sale
• Care for the property of consumers with prudence and respect
• Establish and fulfill a reasonable guarantee and/or service policy regarding products and services and clearly communicate this to clients
• Hold in strict confidence all information regarding customers
• Refrain from all forms of copyright and trademark infringement
• Support international best business practices with respect to the environment
• Support the fair treatment, well being and dignity of individuals in all levels of the jewellery industry, both domestically and internationally
• Abide by and support the Constitution and objectives of the Canadian Jewellers Association, including this Code of Ethics and the CJA Standards of Professional Conduct 
  
  * All CJA members are required to put the following wording on all invoices containing rough or polished diamonds and jewellery containing diamonds:
     
      “The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from
      legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict in compliance
      with United Nations Resolutions.  The seller hereby guarantees that
      these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge
      and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds.”

With these objectives firmly in place, the CJA turned its focus toward eliminating a luxury tax imposed by the federal government over 90 years ago. The federal government, searching for more revenues to support the war, had imposed an Excise Tax on all jewellery products.  A key success for the Association was the repeal on May 2, 2006 of the long-standing tax.