Canadian Tri-Agencies: Practices & Procedures

Consortium Publisher – ICDTD Inc., Canada

Consortium Publisher – ICDTD Inc. adheres to the highest standards of research integrity, ethics, and scholarly conduct, aligning its editorial, peer review, and publication practices with the official guidelines set forth by the Canadian Tri-Agencies:

·         Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

·         Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

·         Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

These three federal granting agencies jointly uphold the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research (2021), which outlines the principles, standards, and procedures required for the responsible management of scholarly activities funded by Canadian public institutions.

1. Commitment to Research Integrity

As a Canadian-based academic publisher, Consortium Publisher – ICDTD Inc. is committed to promoting:

·         Honesty in the presentation of data and results

·         Objectivity in the design, analysis, and interpretation of research

·         Transparency in publication processes

·         Accountability in the dissemination and application of knowledge

We ensure that research published through our platform complies with the ethical standards endorsed by the Tri-Agencies.

View the Tri-Agency Framework

2. Compliance Areas and Responsibilities

Consortium Publisher expects all authors, editors, and peer reviewers to adhere to Tri-Agency guidelines in the following key areas:

a. Authorship and Acknowledgement

·         Proper attribution of authorship based on significant intellectual contribution

·         Accurate disclosure of all funding sources and acknowledgements

·         Prevention of ghostwriting, honorary authorship, or omitted contributors

b. Data Management

·         Accurate representation of research data

·         Retention of original data and research records for at least five years

·         Availability of data for verification if required by the editorial team

c. Conflict of Interest

·         Disclosure of all financial and non-financial conflicts that could influence the research or publication

·         Management of potential bias during peer review or editorial decision-making

d. Ethical Review and Participant Consent

·         Documentation of ethics approval by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Research Ethics Board (REB) for studies involving human or animal participants

·         Informed consent processes that align with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2)

3. Misconduct and Breaches of Policy

Breaches of Tri-Agency policies include, but are not limited to:

·         Fabrication or falsification of data

·         Plagiarism or self-plagiarism

·         Redundant publication or salami slicing

·         Misrepresentation of credentials or author affiliations

·         Failure to meet ethical obligations for human or animal research

Reporting and Investigation

Any suspicion or allegation of research misconduct will be reviewed in accordance with the Tri-Agency Framework and internal publication ethics procedures. All substantiated misconduct may result in:

·         Retraction or correction of the published article

·         Notification to affiliated institutions and funders

·         Prohibition from future submission or editorial participation

4. Editorial Integrity and Oversight

Consortium Publisher’s editorial teams and peer reviewers are trained and guided to:

·         Apply rigorous, unbiased, and confidential peer review

·         Prevent coercive citation, favoritism, and unethical editorial practices

·         Respect the rights of authors while upholding public trust in science

We follow the best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and harmonize our procedures with Tri-Agency compliance mandates.

5. Institutional Responsibilities

For authors affiliated with Canadian institutions, compliance with the Tri-Agencies’ guidelines is a shared responsibility. Institutions must:

·         Ensure that their researchers are trained in responsible conduct of research

·         Maintain a mechanism for investigating misconduct

·         Report confirmed breaches to the appropriate Tri-Agency

·         Cooperate with publishers during ethical investigations and reviews

6. Contact for Compliance Inquiries

For questions regarding Tri-Agency compliance or ethical concerns related to submitted or published research, please contact:

Research Integrity Office
Email: ethics@consortiumpublisher.ca
Website: www.consortiumpublisher.com

By aligning with the Canadian Tri-Agencies’ standards, Consortium Publisher – ICDTD Inc. upholds its mission to foster credible, high-quality, and ethically sound academic publishing in Canada and internationally.