Participation that Counts

Patricia (Trish) Elliott | Presentation to Regina Board of Education March 25, 2014

Integrating community input into decision-making

Processes that fail

“It was a waste of time.”

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

“Nothing we said mattered.”

“Their minds were made up already.”

Quotes from Survey of Athabasca parents, RealRenewal 2011.

Processes that succeed

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Open informationMutually developed process

Inclusive decision-making

Use of community-generated data

Core Values for the Practice

of Public ParticipationInternational Association for Public Participation

Those affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision-making process.

It includes the promise that the public’s contribution will influence the decision.

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Early success factor

Facilitation

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Neutral

Spada & Vreeland. Who Moderates the Moderators? Journal of Public Deliberation, Vol. 9, 2013.

Mutually accepted

“When moderators intervene in favor of one option, they can have a substantively and statistically significant impact on the preferences of participants.”

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Assess and disclose moderator’s stake in the outcome.

More than one moderator, with different views.

Random selection of moderator.

Mutual development of the agenda, the introductory information and the options.

“Where moderators have high stakes in the outcome…sterilizing the potential impact of moderators should take priority.”Spada & Vreeland. Who Moderates the Moderators? Journal of Public Deliberation, Vol. 9, 2013.

“…this process is simply to make the community think

they had a say....”

Gathering Community Input

“I hope the powers that be really listen to what people in the neighbourhood have

to say.”

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Quotes from Stage 1 Concept Plan, RBE, 2012.

Community Input is Data

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Community Input is Data

Core Principles

Accurate and complete record. Verifiable.

Scientific analysis.

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Applied to conclusions.

Applied to options.

Included as options

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

“…the community consultation process revealed a very strong desire to retain the existing Connaught School building…” State 1 Submission, RBE, 2012

Treated as data

Unverified counter-data.

“A lot of people say the school should close.”

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Data exclusion

That’s not an option.

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

We’ve made our decision.

Community issues aren’t our business.

Claims of higher legitimacy

“We were elected to make tough decisions.”

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

“We representthe whole city.”

Ad homonym responses.

(attack the messenger)

You’re not qualified.

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

You’re too negative.

You don’t represent anyone.

Paternalism

“We know what’s best for your children.”

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Administrators/trustees “care.”Parents/community “feel over-entitled.”

Acknowledgement without action

“We listened.”

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Including community

“Decisions should be made by community members.”

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

“…these meetings are a token effort…”

Quotes from Stage 1 Concept Plan, RBE, 2012.

Methods of Genuine InclusionCore Principle: Shared power

Citizen panels

Joint task forces

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

Advisory committees

Responding to community is win-win.

“We want your support for a joint RBE/Ministry/Community Task

Team to develop a mutually acceptable renewal plan.”

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making

“We need the existing building to stay open until June 2015 at minimum.”

Thank you

Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making