While not incorrect, that is an oversimplification. ICAO Annex 6: Operation of Aircraft Part I defines MMEL & MEL as follows:

MMEL: A list established for a particular aircraft type by the organization responsible for the type design with the approval of the State of Design containing items, one or more of which is permitted to be unserviceable at the commencement of a flight. The MMEL may be associated with special operating conditions, limitations or procedures.

MEL: A list which provides for the operation of aircraft, subject to specified conditions, with particular equipment inoperative, prepared by an operator in conformity with, or more restrictive than, the MMEL established for the aircraft type.

What the above means is that the OEM defines the MMEL, the operator (Air Canada in this case) then takes that MMEL and develops their MEL documentation and procedures which must then be approved by the relevant certification authority (TCCA in this case) before they can be used.


Here's a decent Airbus document that describes MMEL and MEL for operator pilots and maintenance personnel.

TCCA has defined its own MMEL supplement documents for each aircraft type that is certified to fly in Canada, for example this is the Airbus A320 TCCA
MMEL supplement document.

The TCCA MMEL and MEL procedures manual is available on-line for anyone to read.