Voluntary Planning

Voluntary Planning Mission

To measurably improve the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of all Nova Scotians by providing the Premier and Cabinet with valuable volunteer and citizen-based advice on relevant policy issues for today and for the future.

Engaging Citizens

Voluntary Planning provides citizen-based input to government on policy issues affecting the lives of Nova Scotians. To do so, it draws on the expertise of volunteers who seek, hear, consider and deliberate on input and thought gained through various forms of citizen engagement and other sources. This approach is rooted in the belief that democracy is strengthened when citizens are engaged in an inclusive and transparent policy process designed to produce advice to government and fellow Nova Scotians.

To this end, Voluntary Planning strives to include all Nova Scotians geographically, sectorally and socially. Also we strive to operate in the service of government's policy needs but at arm's length from government. Finally, the process is transparent, open, and fair, and is perceived to be so in representing the consensus of citizens' views in combination with world-wide research, stakeholder and expert input.

Definition of Citizen Engagement

Citizen engagement refers to a process of involving citizens in the development of public policy. It is described as "interactive and iterative processes of deliberation among citizens Its purpose is to contribute in meaningful ways to specific public policy decisions in a transparent and accountable manner".¹ The International Association for Public Participation outlines a Spectrum of Public Participation reflecting increasing levels of public impact: inform, consult, involve, collaborate, empower.² Voluntary Planning endeavors to achieve the optimum, appropriate level of participation in its citizen engagement work.

¹

Phillips, S.D. and M. Orsini. (2002).
Mapping the Links: Citizen Involvement in Policy Processes,
Canadian Policy Research Network.

²

International Association for Public Participation. (2000).
IAP2 Public Participation Spectrum

Guiding Principles for Citizen Engagement

In carrying out its work, Voluntary Planning (VP) will observe the following guiding principles:

Recognition of the interests of Stakeholders, Citizens and Communities:

1. Communities, citizens and stakeholders are categories having a direct concern or interest in the decision or policy under discussion.
2. Stakeholders are persons or groups who are likely to be impacted in a specific manner or (conversely) may be able to impact the decision or policy under discussion.
3. "Community" may exist as geographic entities, or communities of interest(s).
4. The VP process will strive to ensure fair, comprehensive and equitable representation of stakeholders, citizens and communities in its consultation and engagement programs.

Inclusive:

Voluntary Planning will enable diverse citizen participation by including variation in social class, gender, race, ethnicity, religion and age at every opportunity. Particular attention will be given to inclusion of the First Nations, women, persons with disabilities, African Canadians, Acadians and members of racially visible groups.

Respectful:

1. VP will ensure the purpose and objectives of its consultation and engagement activities are clear to participants.
2. VP will foster a respectful atmosphere in its public consultation and engagement processes. A respectful atmosphere is one that enables participants to: have open dialogue; freely express ideas; achieve clear understanding, and; avoid premature judgement.
3. VP will adopt ground rules appropriate for the issues and for the needs of participants.
4. VP will design engagement activities to avoid or remove barriers, as much as possible, which may inappropriately limit stakeholder or citizen participation.

Objective:

1. Besides citizen engagement, the VP process includes a commitment to independent research and the solicitation of stakeholder and expert opinion. In blending research, expert opinion and consultation, the VP process will always strive to be objective and fair in considering the input of all parties.
2. The VP process is an enabler and advocate for citizens as a vehicle through which relevant and important information can be gathered, clarified and distilled, leading to the formation of particular recommendations.

Responsive:

The VP process will always undertake a response to participants such as through reports and/or set of recommendations reflecting the public input.