Title: Public participation and risk governance: opportunities and barriers

Authors: Cynthia G. Jardine, Merry Turtiak, S. Michelle Driedger

Addresses: Centre for Health Promotion Studies, 5-10 University Terrace, University of Alberta, 8303 – 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2T4, Canada. ' Centre for Health Promotion Studies, 5-10 University Terrace, University of Alberta, 8303 – 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2T4, Canada. ' Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, S113-750 Bannatyne Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0W3, Canada

Abstract: Although involving members of the public in risk decision-making is a key concept of risk governance, efforts to date have met with mixed success. Members of the public and industry/regulatory stakeholders in two Canadian cities were asked to assess the sufficiency of current opportunities for public participation and to identify the barriers to both providing opportunities and participating in existing opportunities. These two groups viewed the opportunities and institutional barriers quite differently, with the stakeholders| viewpoints being more grounded in a regulatory or mandated duty context. Both groups agreed that, at the individual level, lack of time, vested interest and motivation are major barriers. Overcoming these obstacles will require developing two-way communication that explores incongruencies in coorientation to the issue and focuses on aspects of the process, not just the risk issue.

Keywords: public participation; risk governance; opportunities; barriers; coorientation; risk decision making; risk assessment; Canada; stakeholders; risk communication; environmental health risks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAM.2009.030699

International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, 2009 Vol.13 No.3/4, pp.260 - 275

Published online: 30 Dec 2009 *

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