Stakeholder Consultation and Risk Communication in Canada

1. Stakeholder Consultation and Risk Communication in Canada Michael WoodNational Manager, Horticulture SectionPlant Health DivisionCanadian Food Inspection Agency

2. Stakeholder Consultation and Risk Communication • Why consult? • Stakeholders • How are they identified? • Who are they? • Engagement – How do we engage them, what tools do we use?

3. Stakeholder Consultation and Risk Management • Decision Making- Who has the final say? • Follow-Up- How do we ensure ongoing communication? • Other Challenges • Final Point

4. Why? • Stakeholders bring a diversity of opinions, expertise and viewpoints; • Stakeholders know the most about the affected industry, environment or commodity; • Impossible for government to fully understand all facets and impacts of policy; • Ultimately stakeholders often bear the brunt of Canadian policy

5. Why? • Ensures that the view of all parties is taken into consideration when making decisions; • If all the information is shared, government and stakeholders will often reach the same conclusions; • Harmonization internationally • Development of a better final product.

6. National, provincial and local industry associations Other National Plant Protection Organizations Aboriginal groups - Provinces - Researchers - Environmental groups - Rate-payer associations - Cities/municipalities Other government agencies Agriculture and Agri-food Canada - Canadian Forest Service - Environment Canada Industry Canada International Trade Canada Who are the Stakeholders?Identify stakeholders: cast a broad net

7. How Are They Identified • The Usual Suspects; • such as the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, Flowers Canada, Canadian Seed Growers, Canadian Lumber Standards Accreditation Board • Self-Identifiers; • Seek-out issue specific groups. • better to take time at the start rather than repeat the consultation process or part of the process near the end of the development phase.

8. How do we engage them? Communication Tools • Active and Passive Tools for Engagement • Passive • Websites • Posters • Flyers • Pamphlets • List servers • Draft policy documents

9. How do we engage them? • Interactive • Conference calls • Face-to-Face Meetings • Polls • Task Forces • Working Groups

10. Policy Directives • Circulate documents by e-mail to a standing list of stakeholders/list-serve subscribers; • Ask these stakeholders to distribute further; • Post on internet for general public; • Notify frequent contributors in policy contribution via “heads-up” conference calls.

11. Policy Directives • Search out stakeholders who may have a specific interest in a file but whom may not be included in list of frequent contacts; • Varying time frames for feedback is dependant on: • The urgency of the policy changes; • The amount of previous communication; • Impact of policy change.

12. Working Groups • Working Groups are led by CFIA • Used for smaller, less complicated files • Swede Midge, Contarinia nasturtii • Much of the information collected through personal communication • Weekly or twice weekly calls with stakeholders in early stages • On-going dialogue through-out the process

13. Task Forces • Task Forces are chaired by non-CFIA; • Could be a researcher, an industry representative, or a provincial or federal colleague (CFS, AAFC, BCMAFF, etc.); • Often composed of specific components of the policy decision process (regulations, biology of pest, surveillance, etc.) – targets expertise

14. Task Forces • Engages all stakeholders in decision making process; • Shares responsibility for decision making among stakeholders • Helps to avoid making policy decisions based on unbalanced input from vocal, or powerful stakeholders;

15. Task Forces • Forum to hear opinions and comments from stakeholders; • Provides recommendations to CFIA on best course of action. • Used for larger, more complicated and politically “hot” issues; • Plum Pox Virus • Phytophthora ramorum (SOD)

16. Decision Making- Who has the final say? • CFIA, as the agency responsible, must make the final decision; • Task Force may make recommendations that CFIA must refuse or modify; • CFIA tries to take into consideration all viewpoints when making decisions. CFIA Mandate

17. Other Challenges • Who represents the common citizen? • CFIA is made up of common citizens • Stakeholders often are the common citizens • NGO’s often add balance to discussions • Government must try to balance the good for all with the harm caused to one person or one industry sector; • Very difficult balancing act.

18. Other Challenges • Which values are “worth” more? • Economic • Sometimes difficult to give all stakeholders the opportunity to contribute. • Environmental

19. Other Challenges • Must not only give parties opportunity to contribute, but ensure that their contribution was valued and integrated into the policy where possible. • It may be that if no party is completely satisfied with a particular decision, you have done your job correctly.

20. Final Point • Consultation takes more time and more effort and it is often more stressful… BUT IT ALWAYS PRODUCES A BETTER PRODUCT!