So Socia ial l lic licence, d democracy an and t the p public - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

So Socia ial l lic licence, d democracy an and t the p public lic in interest - pra racti tica cal c cons onside dera rati tion ons HEI/SPP PP S Summe mer S School May 1 19, 2 2017 Gaétan Caron Executive Fellow School of Public Policy University of Calgary www.policyschool.ca

The The u use a and nd m misuse of of t the he ph phra rase “soci cial l lice cence” nce” First coined in the context of mining • several sources attribute its origin to • Jim Cooney, Professor at Simon Fraser University (1997) phrase gained ground when the public’s • opinion turned negative towards pipelines and other energy infrastructure projects as a result of high-profile accidents

Who u o uses the the phras hrase? • regulators • industry • policy • ENGOs makers • media • politicians

Regu egulato tors Rare references - most avoid the phrase

“Establishing strong, long-term relationships with those impacted by our business is important to us, and essential to maintaining our social license to operate now and in the future.” Suncor Report on Sustainability 2013

“Social license is generally considered to exist when the perceptions, opinions, and beliefs held by a local population regarding a development allow for the ongoing public approval of the related activity” Pembina Institute,The costs of losing social licence, by Duncan Kenyon, Andrew Read, Published June 6, 2014

Why hy we sho we should no not be su be surprise sed

Tran rans Mounta ntain in Pipe ipeline ne A Ancho hor Loop project (2006)

Inuvik-Tuk Hi High ghway

Sum Sumas 2 (2004 004)

Manit itouli lin Is n Island nd Wind F nd Farm

BC BC LNG LNG E Exp xport Ter erminals

Co Corporate soci cial Sustai tainab nabil ility ity respons nsib ibil ilit ity So Soci cial l licen li cence ce Rul ule of of law aw De Democ mocracy

Let’s t thin ink ab about all all of t this is

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." (from a House of Commons speech on Nov. 11, 1947)

1987 Brundtl dtland Commissi ssion R on Report

An exam ample o of f pu publ blic i c inte teres est determinat nation on – Th The Mackenzie G Gas P Proj oject

• Environmental Assessment Review Expert Panel • NEB Modernization Expert Panel