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6-Orono Weekty Times, Wednesday, September 26th, 1973 queen's park report PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY A new concept of citizen involvement or open planning known as participatory demo- cracy is making a significant impact on a number of developments current in the social and economic life of Ontario. Of particular interest is the citizen involvement in the location of hydro power lines, waste disposal sites, highway routes, airports and the restructuring of local government. Participatory democracy, coupled with rapid economic growth, is in many respects an outgrowth of our changing society. For many years there has been a distinct population KITCHEN MAIN ST. Phone 983-5310 ORONO Check our MENU For fast TAKE-OUT SERVICE - or EAT IN Kentucky Style Chicken Hamburger Cheese Burger Banquet Burger Mom'sSpecial French Fries Wedges Onion Rings Hot Dog's Sandwiches Breakfast Salad plate Cole Salw Patato Sa lad Ice Cream Sundaes Milk Shakes Banana Splits Floats and cones Potato Wedges & Chicken are delïcious MAIN ST. ORONO PIIONE 983-5310 Courteous ..Qualified .. Accurate We Help You Stay Healthy And Happy Whatever you need to keep in good shape . .. medication, grooming aids, vitamin supplements . . . consult us! STUTT'S PHARMACY PHONE ORONO 983-5009 movement from the rural areas to the urban centres with little consideration given by urbànites to the impact of the movement on rural life. In recent years, however, a new specids, the rural estate owner, has appeared on the scene who, as a result of improved transportation fa- cilities, electricity and other modern conveniences, enjoys the benefits of urban life in a relatively quiet rural environ- ment. It is this group through activists organizations that has provided in many respects the nucleus of participatory democracy. In many instanc- es the members of these groups are opposed to the establishment of services which made it possible for them to enjoy the advantages of rural life. The hydro-elect- ric power is one of these factors, and controversy over the route of the new Lennox-- Pickering Power Line could be used as an example. Participatory democracy has a numberof advantages, ,and if the proper techniques are used in the evolution of the process, benefits can result. These include the following: a ( a- growing awareness of the need for proper land use. b( Improved settlements and compensation for the use of the land. c( Greater environmental protection. d( Identification of the cost of a project to the taxpayer and assistance in arriving at a realistic decision. e( Through public discussion resolves many misunderstand ings and results in a better informed public. f( Provides the news media with viewpoints for dissemin- ation to the public. g( Provides a medium where- by a compromise can be reached between need and impact. There are, however, a number of negative aspects to parti- cipatory democracy, and some of these can be defined as follows: 1. It tends to transfer the responsibility for decisions fron the elected representa- tives to the public. Numerous instances are recorded where by a minority opinion expres- sed in public meetings and through the news media has resulted in a decision by a non-elected group. 2. In many instances the participatory democracy pro- cess is not representative, and there appears to be no method for rationalizing the minority views and those of the unspoken niajority. 3. It often results in multi- year deferrments of critical projects. E.G. For each month of delay in the required commitment date of power facilities the deficiency in generation capacity seven years later will amount to that required to supply 40,0.00 typical suburban homes. 4. In the majority of instanc- es the process requires major diversion of expert talent into often frustrating and non-pro- ductives activities. 5. If interferes to a major degree in the making of long term decisions. 6. It results in a wide disparity of views with the danger of individual or minor- ity views taking precedence over what is best for the whole comrpyunity. 7. Objections to projects may be based on limited knowledge imagination, emotion or self- interest. Participatory democracy can and has played an important role in the develop- ment of public services, arid it is true that a utility cannot function well without good input from the community and from individuals. While ef- fects to the environment and the coinmunity must be kept vOTE Walkey Regional Council Ward 3