Better Regulation Through Public Engagement Better Regulation Conference Halifax September 30 2008 Don Lenihan Chair in Public Engagement Public Policy Forum

What do we want? Better regulation aims at: More effective standards and regulations Better compliance Alignment across areas to improve efficiency and competitiveness Continuous improvement

Why consult? Government doesn’t have all the expertise Consultation promotes compliance Harmonization and alignment are necessary to achieve key goals, like a skilled labour force

How does government usually consult? What do you think we should do to solve this problem? Takes a narrow view of the issues that creates winners and losers Makes government secretive, defensive and unwilling to make difficult decisions Suggests that the responsibility for success/failure lies with government alone

A different starting point… Government doesn’t have all the answers It can’t do all the heavy lifting If we want to achieve key public goals—e.g. sustainable development—stakeholders and government must work together Public engagement is about sharing the responsibility for achieving the goal (e.g. better regulation)

How a multi-stakeholder approach works Views → Deliberation → Action → Evaluation The Engagement Continuum

The on-going dialogue

The results A more disciplined public dialogue Shared goals and priorities around which to plan and organize (e.g. harmonize standards and regulations) Clarification and alignment of roles

The results Shared responsibility to act to achieve the goals Trust and cooperation between the various stakeholders On-going dialogue, and ability to adjust to changing circumstances

Process matters… Public engagement is not about “giving away” government’s power It is about exercising it differently to engage the public in solving problems together

The Crossing Boundaries Governance Program Public Policy Forum www.crossingboundaries.ca (613) 238-7160