What is Engagement?
Having the ability to speak your mind and having a say in how you are governed are fundamental rights in a democracy. In the same way, having an opportunity to engage in and influence decisions over activities that may affect your livelihood and well-being are fundamental aspects of good governance.
Engagement (also known as “public participation”, “citizen or public involvement”, “participant engagement” or “stakeholder involvement”) is a term used for a range of approaches and techniques that
- bring to light issues of citizen (stakeholder) concern
- raise awareness of decision or potential decision impacts on stakeholders
- identify processes for participants to address those concerns and impacts
- help mitigate misunderstandings or disagreements about those concerns and impacts
- provide ways to gain agreement on approaches to maximize benefits and minimize adverse consequences on all stakeholders.
Is There a Best Way of Engaging?
There is no “best practice” template for engagement. Because of the nature of the issues, the broad range of stakeholders and their own interests, perspectives and experiences, and the variety of surrounding environments (community, economic and regulatory, amongst others) in which issues and stakeholders merge, engagement is a process built to fit its purpose.
That way a “right practice” is created by the stakeholders, rather than trying to copy someone else’s.
When is Engagement Necessary?
As a general rule, public engagement regarding municipal and regulatory matters occurs when people will likely want to have input regarding projects that may impact them, such as when:
• there is public interest in the activity or service (there is growing interest, everywhere, in the lack of appropriate taxi service!)
• the scale or type of activity or service is perceived as significant, safety related or service oriented (recognition is mounting that paid-for services such as taxis fill an important part in an integrated transportation system!);
• those affected expect to be involved in the process (certainly the industry has these expectations!); or,
• there is a regulatory requirement (and there have been substantial regulatory changes in the last three years, with more planned!).
And how will Voters for Taxis help?
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