C. Jerry Cormick discussed his involvement with an effort in British Columbia to implement a national policy on sustainability. The interests realized that the only way of reconciling legitimate differences was through consensus. They realized that voting would not mean anything. The parties would likely only vote along the same schisms that has led to the current impasse. Voting also tends to lead to argument designed to get more votes.
Consensus brings with it both rights and obligations.
One of the obligations is to clarify areas of disagreement. This enables other members to find a way for a member to come to agreement. Consensus was used only for the central issues. Generally, the chair will spend three to four times as much time as the other members. One of the assets the Commission has is its credibility.