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Articles on Public Consultation

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The degree to which Canadians support effective international co-operation, as essential to future pandemic preparedness and response, will shape Canada’s positioning on the draft international pandemic treaty. (Shutterstock)

The WHO’s international pandemic treaty: Meaningful public engagement must inform Canada’s negotiations

As negotiations for an international pandemic treaty get underway, public engagement is in the best interests of Canadians. Here is how the federal government is consulting affected populations.
Victorians who opposed the East West Link before the November 2014 election would have felt not much had changed when the new government announced the West Gate Tunnel in March 2015. Courtney Biggs/AAP

Sidelining citizens when deciding on transport projects is asking for trouble

Transport infrastructure has such an impact on what kind of city we become that more democratic planning is long overdue. But public consultation is typically limited and focused on design issues.
Health Canada is proposing a new system to fast-track urgent drugs for children, the elderly and those with serious or life-threatening conditions. This would rely on decisions made by regulators in other jurisdictions. (Shutterstock)

Should Health Canada rely on foreign assessment of new drugs?

Health Canada is proposing to allow some prescription drugs into the country with only ‘cursory clinical review.’ Here’s why we should be worried.
Egg donors, sperm donors and surrogates are critical participants and patients in the use of reproductive technologies - so why are their rights and heath repeatedly overlooked? (Shutterstock)

Egg donors and surrogates need high-quality care

Health Canada is drafting important regulations for assisted reproductive technologies. Initial documents treat egg donors and surrogates as little more than spare parts and walking wombs.
Opponents of projects are often scorned as NIMBYs, but active citizenship and local consultation are key elements in creating a city that works well for as many people as possible. Teresa Parker/AAP

30-minute city’? Not in my backyard! Smart Cities Plan must let people have their say

Cities are home to many different people who will not always agree. We need to learn to embrace public debate as an ongoing, constructive process for working through diverse views and values.
Research shows that elevated rail, like this design for Moreland station, has many advantages. Evelyn Hartojo, Melbourne School of Design

The ‘sky rail’ saga: can big new transport projects ever run smoothly?

Elevated rail to remove level crossings, done properly, has many benefits – and the alternatives are more disruptive and costly. But announcing projects with little consultation is asking for trouble.
By releasing its master plan publicly, the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust is allowing a debate to happen. Peter Gawthrop

Keating’s wrong about the plans for Sydney’s Botanic Gardens

The current debate led by Paul Keating about the Master Plan for Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens reminds us how patchy and inconsistent our democracy is in regard to the way we make our cities. The Royal…

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