As evaluations and negotiations are most often closed to the public, it is at this stage that claims of favouritism, patronage politics and other general abuses of the process may occur. The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships notes that the process must be fair, open and transparent. This does not mean that the public becomes involved in evaluation and negotiation. Rather, the local government's project team must establish an evaluation process that is perceived to be fair and free of favouritism. Many local governments have established a selection panel to evaluate the proposals that is separate and independent from the project team and the local government.