Technical committee application: Roles and responsibilities

The Chairperson will:

• Be neutral and act objectively;
• Work in collaboration with the Vice Chairperson to carry out their duties;
• Allow all Committee Members to express their opinions and ensure all views are understood and summarized for future reference;
• Have and display knowledge of the subject matter at hand;
• Have and display strong leadership skills and promote a positive team environment;
• Devote the necessary time to assist the Committee in reaching consensus on Committee documents; 
• With help from the Accessibility Standards Canada Project Manager, lead the following stage of standards development;
  • Committee stage;
  • Enquiry stage;
  • Approval stage;
  • Review stage; and
  • Withdrawal stage
• With the Project Manager, participate in reviews of Committee membership and recommend changes if necessary;
• Ensure that all decisions are clearly communicated and understood;
• Review progress of work against agreed target dates;
• With the Project Manager, identify risks and resolve, mitigate, or avoid issues related to standards development;
• With the Project Manager, facilitate the establishment and disbandment of Task Groups, if needed; and
• With the Project Manager, resolve any incidents between Members.

The Vice Chairperson will:

• Work in collaboration with the Chairperson to carry out their duties;
• Complete tasks assigned by the Chairperson; and
• Act for the Chairperson when:
  • The Chairperson cannot attend a meeting;
  • The Chairperson wishes to participate in the discussion and therefore must relinquish the role of Chairperson in order to maintain neutrality;
  • Dispositioning a negative vote cast by the Chairperson; and
  • Otherwise requested by the Chairperson or Project Manager to do so.

All Members, including the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, will:

• Attend and actively participate in Technical Committee meetings;
• Contribute to drafting and follow the Technical Committee Work Plan;
• Complete required work during and between meetings;
• Contribute to consensus-based approach of developing standards, and vote when required;
• Contribute to a positive team environment; and
• Suggest guest experts when or if additional information is needed

Additionally, Members and the Vice Chairperson will:

• Contribute to the following phases of standards development;
  • Committee stage;
  • Enquiry stage;
  • Approval stage;
  • Review stage; and
  • Withdrawal stage.
• Provide feedback when the Canadian public requests information about technical content.