Coalition of Progressive Electors Code of Conduct (Ratified at 2022 AGM)

 

PREAMBLE

 

The Objectives of this Code are:

  1. to establish a standard of conduct consistent with the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) Constitution and Bylaws and Policies;
  2. to ensure compliance with this Code of Conduct by all members, directors, volunteers, employees, contractors and elected representatives of COPE; and
  3. to ensure accountability by representatives of the Party for compliance with this Code of Conduct.

 

Introduction

 

COPE is committed to ensuring that everyone involved with COPE can interact in a more safe, caring and respectful environment that reinforces socially responsible behavior. All candidates, employees, executive members, volunteers and members with COPE are expected to understand and abide by this Code of Conduct.

 

We believe it takes courage to report cases of harassment and that survivors are often in a less privileged position than the person conducting the harassment, and face more barriers to speaking out, including social stigma. We strive to create a space where experiences of abuse or harassment can be confidently received and responsively engaged with and addressed.

 

DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

 

“Bylaws” means the Constitution and Bylaws of the Coalition of Progressive Electors.

“Code” means the Coalition of Progressive Electors Code of Conduct (this document).

“Conduct Committee of the Executive” means the committee appointed by the 

Executive to address complaints involving serious misconduct and to review decisions of 

the Ombudsteam.

“COPE” means the Coalition of Progressive Electors.

“COPE Person” means a COPE member, volunteer, representative, 

candidate, elected official, member of the executive, employee or contractor.

“Executive” means the Coalition of Progressive Electors Board of Directors.

“Elected Official” means a publicly elected official who is part of the Coalition of

Progressive Electors caucus.

“Ombudsteam” means the Ombudsperson Team appointed by the Executive to address 

alleged violations of the Code.

“Ombudsteam Chair” means the person appointed by the Executive to chair the 

Ombudsteam.

“Member” means a member of COPE.

“Representative” means anyone publicly associated with the Coalition of Progressive

Electors who may be authorized or assumed to represent the Party either in public or in

relation to party members.

 

1. APPLICATION

 

This Code of Conduct applies to all Coalition of Progressive Electors members, volunteers, directors, representatives, candidates, elected officials, employees and contractors.

 

2. UNDERTAKING OF EXECUTIVE MEMBERS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES

 

2.1 General Conduct

 

I recognize that as an Executive member, official representative or employee of COPE, I have a special responsibility to carry out my duties and to represent the Party in a manner consistent with the party’s values, the Constitution and Bylaws and duly adopted Policies of COPE, and with this Code.

 

I will conduct myself in a manner that will maintain and strengthen the public's trust and confidence in the COPE, its representatives and elected officials. I will not undertake any action that would bring the Party, or its members generally, into disrepute, nor work against the

party’s electoral success and the election of its duly nominated candidates.

 

I will act with integrity and professionalism and submit myself to the highest level of scrutiny appropriate to my position.

 

I will not use insulting, harassing, bullying or otherwise offensive language or behaviour.

 

2.2 Conduct at Meetings and during Decision Making

 

I will be constructive in my contributions to discussion and debate, always striving to arrive at the best policies and decisions while bearing in mind that greater wisdom comes from groups engaged in constructive and respectful dialogue than from any single individual.

 

I will avoid conflict between personal, family, friends’ or business interests and the interest of the Party and resolve any conflict between the two or recuse myself from making decisions or public statements on matters where such conflict exists.

 

2.3 Publicly Representing the Coalition of Progressive Electors

 

I will inform and consult with other Executive members and representatives of COPE and work to resolve differences of opinion rather than taking actions or making public statements that may reflect on the entire party or cause confusion with respect to official party policies and positions.

 

I will not speak on behalf of the Executive or the Party generally except with regards to matters where I am authorized to do so. If in doubt, I will seek explicit authorization from the Executive.

 

I will treat all people with respect, courtesy, honesty and fairness.

 

2.4 Responsibilities towards Members

 

I will be accessible to COPE members, and I will respond as promptly as possible to their requests.

 

As an Executive member, I will ensure the responsible and transparent use of party resources.

I will respect the confidentiality and privacy of all information as it pertains to individuals.

 

2.5 Resolving internal differences and disputes

 

If I have differences or difficulties with a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors, I will, if appropriate, work to resolve those issues by talking directly with that person. If unsuccessful, I will ask the Ombudsteam Chair  to appoint a mediator to assist in resolving the issues. 

 

3. ACCEPTANCE BY EXECUTIVE MEMBERS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES

 

Each director or representative of the Coalition of Progressive Electors shall, upon election or appointment to his or her role, execute and deliver to COPE an Acknowledgment and Undertaking in the Form, attached as Appendix “A”.

 

4. ACCEPTANCE BY MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS

 

4.1 Upon adoption of this Code, it shall be posted to the COPE website, and its contents or a web link to its contents shall be circulated to all party members. All members who maintain their memberships shall be deemed to have accepted this Code of Conduct.

 

4.2 All new members shall be deemed to have accepted this Code. A link to this Code shall be placed clearly on the Membership page of the Coalition of Progressive Electors website.

 

5. DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT POLICY

 

5.1 All COPE Persons are required to adhere to COPE’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.

 

6. OMBUDSTEAM

 

6.1 The Executive will appoint members of the Ombudsteam and appoint an Ombudsteam Chair for terms of two years.

 

6.2 The Executive may remove a member of the Ombudsteam or the Ombudsteam Chair by a two-thirds majority vote at any time.

 

6.3 If a member of the Ombudsteam or the Ombudsteam Chair resigns or is removed, the Executive may appoint a new member or chair to complete the remainder of the two year term.

 

7. CONDUCT COMMITTEE OF THE EXECUTIVE

 

7.1 The Executive will appoint three or more members of the Executive to form a Conduct Committee of the Executive.

 

7.2 The Conduct Committee of the Executive has the full authority of the Executive to make decisions in relation to alleged violations of this Code.

 

8. ACCOUNTABILITY:

 

8.1 The Ombudsteam and Conduct Committee of the Executive shall have jurisdiction to determine any complaint against a Member or Representative alleging:

  • a violation of this Code of Conduct;

  • serious misconduct prohibited by the laws of Canada or British Columbia; or

  • misconduct resulting in severe injustice or irreparable harm to COPE or a member of COPE.

 

(a “Complaint”)

8.2 Complaints must be made in writing to the Ombudsteam Chair.

 

8.3 After conducting an initial review of a Complaint, the Ombudsteam Chair shall have authority to:

  • dismiss the Complaint if it is frivolous or vexatious; or

  • appoint one or more members of the Ombudsteam to address the Complaint (a “Ombuds Resolution Team”).

 

8.4 The Ombudsteam Chair and any appointed Ombuds Resolution Team shall act promptly to address a Complaint and communicate its decision to the persons involved.

 

8.5 The following procedures apply to a Ombuds Resolution Team that is appointed to address a complaint:

  • If it is appropriate in the circumstances, the Ombuds Resolution Team will address a complaint through conflict resolution methods, including:

    • informal discussions with the parties involved;

    • mediation; and

    • other methods decided by the Ombuds Resolution Team.

  • The Ombuds Resolution Team shall have sole discretion to determine whether conflict resolution methods are appropriate to address a Complaint and the specific methods that are appropriate in the circumstances.

  • If the Ombuds Resolution Team determines that a Complaint has been adequately addressed through conflict resolution methods, it will close the Complaint and take no further action.

  • If the Ombuds Resolution Team determines that conflict resolution methods are inappropriate to address a Complaint, or that conflict resolution methods have been unsuccessful at addressing a Complaint, the Ombuds Resolution Team will investigate the Complaint and determine whether the Complaint is substantiated.

  • If the Ombuds Resolution Team determines the Complaint cannot be substantiated, it will close the Complaint and take no further action.

  • If the Ombuds Resolution Team determines that a Complaint has been substantiated, it will take one of the following actions:

    • issue a warning to any COPE Person;

    • require a COPE Person to make a written private or public apology;

    • impose an appropriate learning or other remedial process on any COPE Person; or

    • in the case of serious misconduct, make a recommendation to the Conduct Committee of the Executive to:

      • impose an interim suspension of a COPE Person’s party function, or in the case of a candidate, their candidacy;

      • suspend or revoke the authority of a Representative to speak on behalf of or in association with COPE;

      • require a COPE Person to cease or suspend any activities within COPE for a defined period of time;

      • if the COPE Person is a member of the Executive, make a motion to remove the member from the Executive in accordance with the Societies Act; or

      • in extreme circumstances, move to terminate the Member’s membership at a General Meeting in accordance with section 1(d) of the Bylaws.

 

8.6 Upon receiving a recommendation from a Ombuds Resolution Team, the Conduct Committee of the Executive shall promptly decide whether to accept or reject the recommendation of the Ombuds Resolution Team.

 

8.7 The Ombudsteam and the Conduct Committee of the Executive will be guided in their decisions by the following principles:

  • Complaints should not be a means of resolving private disputes among individuals;

  • Complaints should be addressed according to the seriousness of the alleged misconduct;

  • The conduct of all COPE Persons should be considered by taking into account each person’s individual circumstances, including experiences of discrimination and other forms of oppression;

  • Those persons with close personal connections to the complainant or to the person alleged to have violated the Code should not have any involvement in resolving a Complaint; and

  • The prompt resolution of Complaints is necessary in order for COPE to be a positive force for political change in Vancouver.

 

9. HEARING AND REVIEW:

 

9.1 Any person directly affected by a decision of the Ombudsteam shall have 30 days from receiving notice of such decision to seek a hearing and review from the Conduct Committee of the Executive.

 

9.2 The Conduct Committee of the Executive may establish rules, and procedures for hearings and reviews.

 

9.3 On a hearing and review, the Conduct Committee of the Executive may:

  • make any decision that the Ombudsteam could have made;

  • remit the complaint back to the Ombudsteam; or

  • dismiss the complaint.

 

10. CONFIDENTIALITY:

 

10.1 The complaint process is confidential. No person shall disclose any information regarding a complaint resolution process unless the Ombudsteam or Conduct Committee of the Executive authorizes the disclosure. This provision does not prevent a complainant from disclosing their own experience of the behaviour that led to a complaint.

 

11. AMENDMENT:

 

11.1 This Code of Conduct may be amended from time to time by the Executive.

 

11.2 When any part of this Code is amended, the updated Code shall be posted to the website within 30 days. All party officials, representatives, publicly elected officials and candidates shall also be directly informed of the amendments within 30 days of any change.

 

APPENDIX A ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND UNDERTAKING TO COMPLY WITH THIS CODE OF CONDUCT:

 

1.1 I agree to comply with the Coalition of Progressive Electors Code of Conduct, as amended from time to time.

 

1.2 I acknowledge and undertake to submit to the jurisdiction of the Ombudsteam and Conduct Committee of the Executive, as applicable, in respect of my compliance with the Code of Conduct and the authority of the Ombudsteam and Conduct Committee of the Executive, as applicable, to make any order thereunder.

 

1.3 I acknowledge and accept that I may be subject to discipline from the Coalition of Progressive Electors in respect of any noncompliance by me with the Code of Conduct, which may, if circumstances warrant, include suspension or termination of my membership.