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Equitable Regional Public Policy Process

The Council of Great Lakes Industries (CGLI) believes that the formulation of sustainable environmental public policy is a critical issue for the region. To provide maximum benefit to the human and natural resources of the region, CGLI believes that policy should be developed with the most efficient use of the scarce resources of time, money and talent. These resources must be expended where they will do the most good. In the Great Lakes region, this requires both coordinated voluntary actions and the harmonious administration of public policy by agencies of two separate National governments. It is, therefore, vital that the science-based review and consultation processes that result in good policy be clearly defined and adhered to by all participants.

At a minimum, the process must adhere to the tenets of the scientific method - including peer review. The issues to be addressed by such a fair and equitable process include:

1. the determination of need for a policy;
2. the scope of that need including goal setting;
3. the method(s) by which facts will be determined;
4. the method(s) by which change(s) in behavior will be incented;
5. the method(s) by which progress toward goals will be ascertained; and
6. a process for determining new priorities that includes recognition for accomplishments on old priorities.

CGLI believes that fair and equitable processes to address the above will contain the following critical elements:

1) Public policy setting bodies must seek opinions from all stakeholders. It is particularly important to include scientists or technically competent individuals that can: 1)contribute to the understanding/quantification of risk; 2) address the availability and cost of resources; 3) measure/quantify the benefits derived from the deployed resources; 4) prioritize challenges or opportunities within the environmental, economic, and social context.

2) The steps to achieving a workable policy be clearly defined in advance by the policy setting body. These steps will include estimates of resources, timetables, and clearly defined accountability.

3) All discussions with stakeholders are factual and forthcoming. Challenges and opportunities are fairly defined regardless of the audiences. All competitive views are accurately acknowledged and presented. Respect is given to the positions, resources and contributions (past, present and future) of stakeholders. This may necessitate that the process be 3rd party facilitated.

4) Stakeholders have access to all levels of the process where their data is utilized.

5) Agendas and work plans are consensus driven and stakeholders agree to abide by consensus decisions.

6) Recognition is given to the importance of voluntary initiatives.

7) Provisions are established for sunsetting specific policies and their resulting rules and regulations when there is no longer a need.

8) Distinctions are drawn between historical problems and current practices in setting priorities and developing policies.

9) Priorities are considered within the context of sustainable development. Priority determination based on need (risk), availability of limited resources (cost) and the return to society for the investment of effort (benefit).

10) Recognition given for the need to balance risk and benefit in all human activity with a focus given to retaining the benefits while appropriately reducing risk.

11) The process is pragmatic and focused on well defined objectives.

12) The scientific method - including peer review - is used and recognition is given to technical, economic and social realities.

CGLI will actively encourage industry to engage in public policy creation processes that meet these criteria and work diligently to change those processes that do not.

Approved 1-99