Gwaii Haanas Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

June 6, 2014 (Final draft)  

Context
Purpose
Committee Structure
Roles and Responsibilities
Meetings
Relations With Public And Media
Evaluation
Code of Conduct

1. CONTEXT

Gwaii Haanas is a 5,000 km2 protected area known for its intact ecosystems, distinct island flora and fauna, rich marine life, examples of living Haida culture, and cooperative management structure. Gwaii Haanas is managed cooperatively by the Government of Canada (Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans) and the Haida Nation through the Archipelago Management Board (AMB). The AMB is guided by the Gwaii Haanas Agreement (1993) and the Gwaii Haanas Marine Agreement (2010), which describe how Canada and the Haida Nation will cooperate in the planning, operation, management and use of Gwaii Haanas.

The AMB is commencing a planning process that will culminate in an integrated land-sea-people management plan, due in 2015. The Gwaii Haanas Advisory Committee is being established to provide advice to the AMB as an important component of the consultation and communication strategy for the planning process. An advisory committee is also a legislative requirement of the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act (s. 11.1) and is a commitment made in the 2010 Interim Management Plan for the Gwaii Haanas marine area.

2. PURPOSE

The Gwaii Haanas Advisory Committee (GHAC) provides advice to the AMB on management issues related to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site.

3. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

Membership

The committee will consist of 10-12 individuals with background/experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Haida traditional ecological and/or cultural knowledge of Gwaii Haanas
  
  
• Tourism industry in Gwaii Haanas and/or Haida Gwaii
  
  
• Recreational fishing in Gwaii Haanas and/or Haida Gwaii
  
  
• Commercial fishing in Gwaii Haanas and/or Haida Gwaii
  
  
• Haida Gwaii youth, 18-25
  
  
• Research/academia with expertise in ecology, fisheries science, resource management, or other relevant discipline
  
  
• Environmental non-government (ENGO) sector

Alternates

• Not permitted

Length of term

• First term: Fall 2014 until the Gwaii Haanas land-sea-people management plan has been approved
  
  
• Subsequent terms: 2 years

Attendance requirements

• Members who fail to attend two meetings in a row without prior approval from the Gwaii Haanas planning team will be removed from the committee

4. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Gwaii Haanas Advisory Committee:

• Participate in good faith and with their own and the larger public interest in mind
  
  
• Bring their personal perspectives based on life experiences and knowledge
  
  
• Have a strong personal connection to Gwaii Haanas and concern for its future
  
  
• Commit to work towards consensus on advice
  
  
• Prepare for and attend meetings
  
  
• Participate in meetings through active listening and thoughtful contribution
  
  
• Work to develop advice that considers Canada’s (Parks Canada/Fisheries and Oceans Canada) and the Haida Nation’s relevant policies and programs, the perspectives of all committee members, and other supporting information
  
  
• Represent information, views and outcomes of discussions accurately and appropriately to external audiences
  
  
• Abide by the Code of Conduct (Appendix 1)

Gwaii Haanas Planning Team (Parks, DFO, Haida Nation):

• Set meeting agendas and coordinate meeting logistics
  
  
• Develop and distribute meeting materials
  
  
• Lead GHAC meetings (an external facilitator may be used if needed)
  
  
• Develop and distribute meeting summaries within 10 business days of meetings
  
  
• Serve as liaison between AMB and GHAC

Gwaii Haanas Archipelago Management Board:

• Provide requests to the Gwaii Haanas Planning Team on issues that require GHAC advice
  
  
• Receive and consider GHAC advice as part of the decision-making process
  
  
• Provide outcomes of AMB decisions to the GHAC, including justification for any decisions that are not in line with advice provided
  
  
• May participate in GHAC meetings

5. MEETINGS

Schedule and location

• Meetings will be called by the Gwaii Haanas Planning Team on behalf of the AMB, 1-5 times per year, and will generally be held in Haida Gwaii

Meeting materials

• Materials will be distributed to members at least one week in advance
  
  
• GHAC members are expected to review all materials prior to meetings

Advice development

• The GHAC will develop advice in a cooperative and collaborative manner that considers the interests and perspectives of all members
  
  
• GHAC members will make every effort to achieve consensus on the advice they provide
  
  
• Where the GHAC cannot reach consensus, advice will describe different perspectives and why consensus could not be reached

Meeting Notes

• Summary notes of each meeting will be developed and distributed to GHAC members
  
  
• GHAC members will have the opportunity to review and comment on meeting notes

Travel Costs and Honoraria

• Advisory Committee members will be compensated for out-of-pocket travel expenses according to guidelines from the Treasury Board Travel Directive (http://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/travel-voyage/index-eng.php)
  
  
• Members will receive a $100 honorarium for each meeting they attend
  

6. RELATIONS WITH PUBLIC AND MEDIA

• GHAC meetings are not public and will not be advertised, but attendance requests from the public and/or media will be considered by the Gwaii Haanas Planning Team
  
  
• Meeting observers are required to adhere to meeting procedures and will not participate in discussions without prior approval of the Gwaii Haanas Planning Team
  
  
• The Gwaii Haanas Planning Team retains the right to close meetings or parts of meetings to the public and the media
  
  
• When discussing the work of the GHAC, members will respond to the public and the media in a way that is respectful of other participants and sectors and supportive of the process

7. EVALUATION

• GHAC members will have an opportunity to contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of their engagement at the end of their term. Evaluations will be used to adapt and improve the planning process
  
  
• Throughout their term, GHAC members are encouraged to share their perspectives on aspects of the process that are working well and those that require improvement
  

APPENDIX 1: Code of Conduct

Gwaii Haanas Advisory Committee members will:

• Treat other committee and planning team members with respect
  
  
• Seek to understand the perspectives of other members by listening actively
  
  
• Communicate their own perspectives in a respectful manner
  
  
• Focus on common ground, creative solutions, and underlying interests and objectives
  
  
• Allow each other the freedom to test new ideas and suspend judgment until understanding is reached
  
  
• Identify and test assumptions (including one’s own)
  
  
• Prepare for meetings by reading and digesting meeting materials and thinking about your responses
  
  
• Put away cell/smart phones during meetings
  
  
• Raise any matter perceived to be in violation of this code of conduct or of good faith discussions with the GHAC and Planning Team

Gwaii Haanas Planning Team members will:

• Treat committee and other planning team members with respect
  
  
• Ensure that all committee members have the opportunity to share their perspective
  
  
• Be prepared for meetings
  
  
• Start and end meetings on time
  
  
• Put away cell/smart phones during meetings
  
  
• Raise any matter perceived to be in violation of this code of conduct or of good faith discussions with the GHAC and Planning Team