Mechanisms for Public Participation at a Normative Planning Level in Canada

Authors

L. Graham Smith, The University of Western Ontario

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 1982

Volume

8

Issue

4

Journal

Canadian Public Policy

First Page

561

Last Page

572

Abstract

The experience with public participation in Canada has been predominantly at an operational planning level. Little attention has been given to the issue of public involvement at a normative planning level, and there is not a clear nor concise strategy for 'normative participation'. Based on available literature, personal interviews and the author's own experience, the intent of this paper is to review the existing alternative mechanisms for public participation at a normative planning level in Canada. It is demonstrated that advisory bodies, Green Papers and legislative committees are better suited to effective public participation at a normative planning level than are the more commonly employed mechanisms of lobbying and public inquiries.