Code of Ethics for AQIII Members

AQIII members agree to respect the Code of Ethics. Any violation of the Code will be dealt with by the board of directors, which may decide on the measure to take, going so far as the removal of a member.

Purpose of the Association

The Quebec Association of IT Freelancers (AQIII) was created in November 1993 as a non-profit association.

• Our mission:

Assemble as many self-employed workers as possible with experience in information and communication technology (ICT) in order to exploit the benefits of a solid network while remaining free to work independently.

• Our action:

The Association facilitates the availability of IT mandates for its membership, networking, the sharing of information between IT consultants and access to discounts with specific suppliers.

• Our values:

The AQIII is aware that networking and mutual aid based on common needs are key values for the association and its members.

Generalities

• Any use of the masculine form applies to both males and females.
• An information and communication technology (ICT) service includes activities such as the planning, design, coordination, management, implementation, deployment, maintenance and assessment of a technology-based business solution.
• A client is a person or business that decides to purchase an ICT service.

- It may be an end client when it purchases the ICT service for its own needs.
- It may be an intermediate client when it purchases the ICT service for the needs of its own clients.

• A supplier is a service provider that helps the self-employed worker to accomplish his mandates.
• This code of ethics is no substitute for the law, which shall have precedence when its rules are more precise or more rigorous.           

Commitment to our clients

• The self-employed worker ensures that his contractual situation binding him to his clients is clear and communicated, and that it remains so.
• The self-employed worker accomplishes his mandates with a high level of moral responsibility, integrity and respect.

- He neither causes damage nor allows damage to be caused to his clients.
- He ensures that he understands the consequences of his professional services and that they remain within the law and compliant with technical and professional standards generally recognized in the ICT industry.
- He treats his clients’ success on the same level as his own.

• The self-employed worker provides services adapted to his knowledge and abilities.

- If he is unable to fulfill his commitments, he so informs and helps it find a solution so that it can meet those commitments.

• The self-employed worker fulfills his obligations towards his clients.

- He fulfills them diligently, impartially and honestly.
- He remains objective and discloses all relevant information to his clients.

- He avoids situations of conflict of interest and informs his clients of any apparent or confirmed possibility of conflict of interest.
- He does not allow the dissemination of false, inaccurate or incomplete information, or any activities that would be in breach of his obligations towards his clients.

• The self-employed worker respects the confidentiality and ownership of his clients’ information and protects and respects their hardware and software.

Commitment to our suppliers

• The self-employed worker ensures that his contractual situation binding him to his suppliers is clear and communicated, and that it remains so.
• The self-employed worker treats his suppliers with a high level of moral responsibility, integrity and respect.

- He neither causes damage nor allows damage to be caused to his suppliers.
- He ensures that he understands the consequences of his professional services and that they remain within the law and compliant with technical and professional standards generally recognized in the ICT industry.
- He treats his suppliers’ success on the same level as his own.
- He recognizes his suppliers’ work.
- He discloses all relevant information to his suppliers.

• The self-employed worker ensures that his suppliers have the knowledge and abilities needed to perform their tasks.

- If the suppliers are unable to meet their commitments, the self-employed worker makes a commitment to his clients to find solutions to meet his obligations.

• The self-employed worker respects the confidentiality and ownership of his suppliers’ information and protects and respects their hardware and software.