ziggy
Well-Known Member
Are you a member OBD? Do you really think meetings should be held behind closed doors or people unable to attend should have no voice? Wow pretty democratic! Anyway here's a quote from a Google search of DFO. Maybe it's no longer in effect? But what do you make of point 5.
Appendix A
SFAB Code of Conduct
The right to participate in an advisory process is accompanied by responsibilities. Those who participate in consultation processes should do so in good faith and with the public interest in mind. Participants have a responsibility to engage in effective, balanced and civil communication. As representatives of diverse interests in the recreational fishery they have a responsibility to ensure that they are accountable to their constituents, that government gets the information it needs to make well-informed and balanced decisions, and that all three levels of the SFAB process operate as efficiently as possible.
All SFAB participants should:
- Maximize the exchange of information and minimize misunderstandings by:
- speaking clearly, listening carefully and asking for clarification if a point is not understood;
- sharing information related to the issues at hand;
- stating concerns about other participants’ interests or the process openly and directly;
- clearly explaining what is important to them and why;
- stating their perspective as concisely and briefly as possible; and
- Ensure that others have the opportunity to speak, that all perspectives are taken into account and that a respectful atmosphere is maintained by:
- respecting each others’ values and interests;
- avoiding accusatory language, rude behavior and stereotyping;
- listening to what others have to say without interrupting;
- beginning meetings on time;
- seeking a better understanding of other perspectives with an open mind; and
- Ensure accountability to local, regional or province-wide constituencies by:
- making every effort to attend all important meetings, or sending an alternate;
- establishing clear lines of accountability with those they represent;
- communicating pertinent information to their constituencies regularly;
- acting quickly to raise and resolve any concerns regarding the accountability of the process or any of the representatives to protect the integrity and trust of the group.
- When negotiating in the advisory process, facilitate agreements across the full spectrum of interests by:
- negotiating in good faith, building as much agreement as possible;
- avoiding participation in activities that may undermine the negotiation;
- focusing on underlying interests or objectives rather than positions and seeking to understand the interests of others;
- recognizing the legitimacy of other interests;
- treating issues as problems to be solved not as personal or sectoral conflicts;
- allowing others the freedom to test ideas without prejudice to future discussion; and
- seeking creative solutions that accommodate all interests.
- Engaging in appropriate external communication by:
- ensuring that descriptions of the process are as accurate as possible before communicating them to the general public or the media;
- ensuring that contact with the media is respectful of others
(Said tongue in cheek)
