Chapter V: Disqualification of Conciliators and Vacancies

Rule 27: Proposal for Disqualification of Conciliators

(1) A party may file a proposal to disqualify one or more conciliators (“proposal”) on the ground that circumstances exist that give rise to justifiable doubts as to the qualities of the conciliator required by Rule 20.

(2) The following procedure shall apply:

(a) the proposal shall be filed after the constitution of the Commission and within 21 days after the later of:

(i) the constitution of the Commission; or

(ii) the date on which the party proposing the disqualification first knew or first should have known of the facts upon which the proposal is based;

(b) the proposal shall include the grounds on which it is based, a statement of the relevant facts, law and arguments, and any supporting documents;

(c) the other party shall file its response and any supporting documents within 21 days after receipt of the proposal;

(d) the conciliator to whom the proposal relates may file a statement that is limited to factual information relevant to the proposal. The statement shall be filed within five days after the earlier of receipt of the response or expiry of the time limit referred to in paragraph (2)(c); and

(e) each party may file a final written submission on the proposal within seven days after the earlier of receipt of the statement or expiry of the time limit referred to in paragraph (2)(d).

(3) If the other party agrees to the proposal prior to the dispatch of the decision referred to in Rule 28, the conciliator shall resign in accordance with Rule 30.

(4) The proceeding shall be suspended upon the filing of the proposal until a decision on the proposal has been made, except to the extent that the parties agree to continue the proceeding.

Rule 28: Decision on the Proposal for Disqualification

(1) The Secretary-General shall make the decision on the proposal.

(2) The Secretary-General shall use best efforts to decide any proposal within 30 days after the expiry of the time limit referred to in Rule 27(2)(e).

Rule 29: Incapacity or Failure to Perform Duties

If a conciliator becomes incapacitated or fails to perform the duties required of a conciliator, the procedure in Rules 27 and 28 shall apply.

Rule 30: Resignation

(1) A conciliator may resign by notifying the Secretary-General and the other members of the Commission.

(2) A conciliator shall resign upon the joint request of the parties.

Rule 31: Vacancy on the Commission

(1) The Secretary-General shall notify the parties of any vacancy on the Commission.

(2) The proceeding shall be suspended from the date of notice of the vacancy until the vacancy is filled.

(3) A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by the method used to make the original appointment, except that the Secretary-General shall fill any vacancy that has not been filled within 45 days after the notice of vacancy.

(4) Once a vacancy has been filled and the Commission has been reconstituted, the conciliation shall continue from the point it had reached at the time the vacancy was notified.