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PRIVACY POLICY AND CONFIDENTIALITY COMMITMENT OF THE CANADA-LEBANON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Protection and Use of Confidential and Personal Information

This document supplements the Privacy Policy available publicly on the Canada-Lebanon Chamber of Commerce and Industry website at www.ccicl.ca. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this document and the public Privacy Policy, the provisions that are most protective of the individuals concerned shall apply.

The Canada-Lebanon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (hereinafter “the Chamber”) is committed to maintaining respect for and protection of your privacy as a partner, mentor, mentee, or participant in its programs. It has developed a management system aimed at improving the day-to-day administration of mentoring data relating to mentors and mentees. This tool allows for the appropriate collection of qualitative and quantitative data necessary and proportionate to the purposes of the mentoring program, in accordance with sections 4 and 5 of the Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector (Act 25), in order to identify and adequately serve participants (mentors and mentees).

The database, which is computerized, secure, and accessible using appropriate authentication measures, collects confidential information, some of which is personal in nature, but only information that is necessary for the management and development of the Chamber's mentoring program, in accordance with the principle of data minimization provided for in Act 25.

All information provided remains strictly confidential. The Canada Lebanon Chamber of Commerce and Industry does not sell, exchange, rent, give, or disclose personal and confidential information to third parties or other sectors of the Chamber's activities, except as required by law or with the explicit consent of the person concerned.

Furthermore, in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Quebec's Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector (Bill 25), mentors and mentees may change their communication preferences at any time in their personalized profile on the Canada-Lebanon Chamber of Commerce and Industry website.

Confidential and personal information obtained in the course of mentoring

The Canada Lebanon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with its members (mentors, mentees, and partner organizations), are committed to keeping confidential and not sharing with third parties any exchanges that a mentee and their mentor may have, whether in individual meetings (in person or virtual/videoconference) or in group meetings (with fellow mentees and other mentors).

Similarly, in the context of mentoring (individual or group), whether in person or virtual (videoconference), it is strictly prohibited to record exchanges between a mentor and a mentee or with fellow mentees and other mentors, and/or to publish such recordings on any platform without obtaining the explicit written consent of all parties in advance. Any breach of this obligation may result in immediate exclusion from the mentoring program and could give rise to civil or criminal proceedings.

CODE OF ETHICS

Ethics calls for reflection on human behavior and the principles that underpin it.

This Code of Ethics highlights the concept and values of the Chamber's entrepreneur mentoring program. It also specifies the guidelines and commitments that define and govern mentoring practices, without denying individuals the responsibility to exercise their judgment on how to apply these guidelines and commitments in specific situations. The success of the entrepreneur mentoring program depends on compliance with this Code of Ethics, whose primary purpose is to preserve the relationship of trust between mentor and mentee. This Code of Ethics does not create any contractual obligation between the Chamber and the participants in the mentoring program, nor does it create any rights or recourse for participants against the Chamber. It merely establishes ethical guidelines to frame the relationship between the mentor and the mentee.

This Code of Ethics applies to mentees, mentors, lead mentors, coordinators, and all those involved in the Chamber’s entrepreneur mentoring program. The values and commitments set out herein apply uniformly throughout the program and cannot be modified or diminished.

This Code of Ethics also calls on mentees to assume their responsibilities toward their mentors and the mentoring relationship.

GENERAL INFORMATION

01 | Definition of mentoring for entrepreneurs
A voluntary support relationship based on mutual trust and respect. In this special relationship, an experienced individual (the volunteer mentor) shares their experience and knowledge with another individual (the entrepreneur mentee) in order to support them in their professional and personal development as an entrepreneur.

02 | Key Values
The Chamber relies on the following reference values to guide the practice
of mentoring:

Collaboration
An entrepreneur develops more favorably when they benefit from the collaboration of an experienced person who works with them to help them build on the experiences and situations they encounter, while retaining control over their own development. The Chamber encourages mentors to collaborate without encroaching on the mentee's own responsibilities for their development.

Volunteer work
Volunteer work is when someone, in this case a mentor, provides support free of charge, without compensation or benefit of any kind, and without being obliged to do so.

Respect
The mentor's relationship with the mentee is based on belief in the mentee's potential and respect for the mentee's approach to and resolution of challenges. This requires the mentor to respect the mentee's strengths and limitations and to take individual cultural differences into account. The mentor demonstrates this respect through an open attitude toward differences between themselves and the mentee, and by exercising restraint with regard to their own approach to and resolution of problems. The mentor understands the need to behave in a consistent and exemplary manner in all circumstances.

Responsibility and autonomy
Each person is responsible for the consequences of their actions. Responsibility implies the notion of accountability on the part of the mentee for their actions and decisions. It is based on their ability to make choices, take responsibility for their own decisions, feel accountable for their actions, take initiative, and be consistent with their values in the pursuit and maintenance of their own autonomy. The mentor promotes the mentee's autonomy by refraining from crossing the fine line that separates them from a relationship of authority over the mentee.

Responsibilities and commitments of those acting as mentors

The mentor agrees to the following:

• Act in the best interests of the mentee entrepreneur's development in all circumstances;
• Avoid placing themselves in a conflict of interest situation. In the event that a mentor is supporting two or more entrepreneurs, the program coordinator and the mentor concerned must ensure that the entrepreneurs are not in direct or indirect competition with each other, unless the entrepreneurs concerned have agreed to this situation in writing. A mentor may not mentor an entrepreneur in a way that places them in a conflict of interest with a parent, partner, competitor, supplier, customer, or other company in which they have a financial, commercial, or other interest. The mentor must immediately disclose any potential or actual conflict of interest to the program coordinator and the mentee as soon as they become aware of it;
• Never interfere in the administration or management of the mentee's business; you are the entrepreneur's mentor, not the business's mentor;
• Leave all responsibility for decisions to the mentee for their business;
• Provide reliable and accessible support that takes into account the constraints of the entrepreneur being mentored;
• Volunteering without any benefits, rewards, or compensation for their commitment to mentoring;
• Adapt your approach and interventions according to your role as a mentor as defined by the Chamber and the individual characteristics of the entrepreneur you are mentoring.
• Respect the mentee and offer support marked by empathy, courtesy, and discretion;
• Remain discreet and keep everything they learn (see, hear, assume, etc.) in the course of their role as mentor strictly confidential, subject to legal disclosure requirements, particularly in cases of fraud, criminal activity, or when disclosure is required by a competent authority or court;
• Maintain a relationship of trust and compatibility. If this is not possible, arrange for a replacement;
• Respect the mentee's pace and personal and professional development;
• Refrain from exercising any undue influence;
• Participate in the development and consolidation of the Chamber's mentoring program;
• Maintain an attitude of reserve towards fellow mentors.

Responsibilities and commitments of the mentored entrepreneur

The mentored entrepreneur agrees to the following:

• They freely agree to be accompanied by a mentor in order to improve their learning of the role of entrepreneur;
• They actively participate in the mentoring relationship and are involved in their dyad;
• He informs his mentor as clearly as possible about the nature of his needs, choices, values, and intentions.
• He does not hesitate to inform his mentor of any attitude or behavior on the mentor's part that would undermine his sense of autonomy in relation to the mentor and prevent him from placing the necessary trust in the mentor to open up to him.
• He adopts a positive attitude toward the mentoring relationship.
• They act transparently with their mentor and express their expectations, hesitations, and refusals.
• They endorse the Chamber's Code of Ethics with regard to mentoring for entrepreneurs.

READ AND ACCEPTED on the date of online registration on the Chamber's website: www.ccicl.com

DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY CLAUSE

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This clause limits the legal remedies available against the Chamber. It is recommended that you read it carefully and consult legal counsel if necessary before accepting it.
The Chamber of Commerce of the City of Montreal (hereinafter referred to as the “Chamber”) hereby informs you that, by accepting this clause, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

By accepting this Code of Ethics, the mentor and mentee acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. The Chamber acts solely as a facilitator to connect mentors and mentees as part of its mentoring program.

2. The mentoring relationship is a personal and voluntary relationship between the mentor and the mentee. The Chamber acts solely as an intermediary to facilitate the initial connection. The Chamber is not a party to the mentoring relationship, exercises no control, supervision, or direction over the advice, recommendations, or guidance provided by the mentor, and makes no guarantee as to the quality, relevance, or accuracy of such advice. The mentor does not act as an agent, employee, or representative of the Chamber.

3. The mentor and mentee acknowledge that the Chamber cannot be held liable, except in cases of gross negligence or wilful misconduct, for:

a) Advice, recommendations, opinions, or guidance provided by the mentor;
b) Decisions made by the mentee following discussions with their mentor;
c) The results, positive or negative, arising from the mentoring relationship;
d) Any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential property damage resulting from participation in the mentoring program;
e) Any violation of this Code of Ethics by the mentor or mentee;
f) Any conflict, dispute, or litigation arising between the mentor and the mentee.

This limitation of liability does not apply to bodily injury or moral damages, nor to cases where such exclusion is prohibited by law.

4. The mentee acknowledges and declares that he or she remains solely and entirely responsible for all decisions concerning his or her business and professional development. The mentee agrees to exercise their own independent judgment and to seek appropriate professional advice (legal, accounting, financial, or other) before making any important decisions based on discussions with their mentor. The mentee acknowledges that the mentor is not a professional advisor and that their comments are provided for informational purposes only and are based solely on their personal experience.

5. The mentor acknowledges that he or she is acting in a voluntary capacity and at his or her own risk, and that he or she cannot hold the Chamber liable for any claims arising from his or her participation in the mentoring program.

6. To the extent permitted by applicable law in Quebec, the mentor and mentee waive any recourse against the Chamber, its directors, officers, employees, representatives, and agents in connection with their participation in the mentoring program, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct on the part of the Chamber. This waiver does not apply to cases where liability cannot be excluded under public policy provisions of the Civil Code of Québec.

7. Severability: If any provision of this waiver clause is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, or if such modification is not possible, it shall be deemed severed from this clause. The validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired in any way.