The public has both a right and a responsibility to be part of the solution to
the Great Lakes crisis. Strong public support and outreach is therefore key
to restoration and protection of the ecosystem. Programs and plans must
follow these three principles as they relate to public engagement:
Increase Transparency
The public needs to have access in a timely manner to all information
pertaining to the health of the Great Lakes and efforts to restore and
protect the ecosystem. Scientific data must be translated into information
that is readily accessible and understood by decision-makers and
local watershed groups. Transparency and accessibility must also be
key features in the decision-making process. A Great Lakes office or
government information service must make information readily accessible
to the public.
Encourage Participation
Bi-national institutions must actively engage the public in decisionmaking
and encourage government accountability. Measures to promote
accountability must include a new mechanism for citizen complaints,
a request for review process and public interest enforcement ability. Remediation and conservation efforts need to engage the public in the
planning process. As a preliminary measure, support must be restored
for many of the Public Advisory Committees (PACs) for the Remedial
Action Plans (RAPs) in the Areas of Concern (AOCs).
Improve Education
Many of the programs to restore and conserve the Great Lakes require suitable public education as part of their implementation. Public attitudes
toward the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River and how people
view the lakes within their daily lives will impact on how readily they
will change their behaviour. Public education and outreach must be
central components of every plan. |
