In British Columbia, with the pending Provincial Environmental Impact Assessment Act due for enactment in the spring of 1993, the definition and direction for public participation is paramount on all major projects. In accordance with this legislation and in an effort to harmonize the new Federal Environmental Assessment Act, the Ministry of Transportation and Highways has developed a comprehensive public participation process. It is expected that this process will, in its developed form, involve the public in an earlier, more comprehensive manner on highway projects, and also bring about a renewed credibility in the public participation process. This paper describes the new public participation process that will be used public participation process that will be used by the Ministry of Transportation and Highways. It will also demonstrate examples of previous efforts of public participation on major projects where many of the lessons on trust and credibility, or lack of it, have been learned. (A)
Samenvatting