A320 Captain reported 'no NOTOC' cancellation message received prior to pushback. After an extensive delay a message stating 'no DG cargo on board' was provided to the crew; enabling the flight to depart.

Narrative

During preflight; we received via ACARS an Expect NOTOC (Notice to Crew) message for dangerous goods. We never did receive the NOTOC. We queried the tug driver; and he confirmed that no DG (Dangerous Goods) was loaded on the aircraft. We then asked the tug driver to confirm that; in accordance with FOM; the Crew Chief cancelled the NOTOC. We received verbal confirmation that no DG was loaded on the aircraft; but we did not receive confirmation that the NOTOC had been cancelled in accordance with the FOM; nor did we receive the NOTOC cancellation message via ACARS in accordance with FOM. I contacted station operations; but they were unable to assist in producing the NOTOC cancellation message. I contacted my dispatcher. My dispatcher was not helpful. In fact; my dispatcher informed me that in all of his years as a dispatcher; he had never had a Captain insist on receiving a NOTOC cancellation message; as required by my FOM. Central Load Planning then sent a message via ACARS informing us that no Dangerous Goods were loaded on the flight; but the message did not contain the verbiage found in FOM 'cancellation.' Ultimately; I made contact with the ZZZ Director of Operations. The ZZZ Director of Operations authorized me to depart; and he sent both email and text message confirmation of his authorization. He also had a message sent to us via ACARS; though the text of that message did not comport with the text found in FOM. In all; I refused to depart until receiving the NOTOC Cancellation message required by the FOM. We incurred a delay of approximately 1:40 since nobody was able to send us via ACARS the required NOTOC Cancellation message.Other departments; including Ground Support; Station Operations; Dispatch; and Load Planning are either not aware of my FOM requirement to receive a NOTOC Cancellation message or they do not know how to cancel a NOTOC and generate the NOTOC Cancellation message.Other departments should be trained on the requirement to cancel a NOTOC and the process for generating the required NOTOC Cancellation message.