One of the questions at the All Candidates Meeting was about public participation.

It is something I have thought about, studied and worked on for years.

There is a useful framework developed by the International Association for Public Participation. It describes a range from simply informing people, through consulting, involving and collaborating with them, all the way to empowering the public to have a much greater role in decisions. IAP2 Canada

I have already brought a motion to Council asking us to explore how Central Saanich could move further along that spectrum. That motion was referred to the next Council.

For me, this connects directly with the approach to leadership I have studied with Dr. Marshall Ganz at the Harvard Kennedy School and continue to practise through the Leading Change Network.

The idea is simple. Leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about listening, building relationships, finding common purpose and helping people act together when things are uncertain.

I would like to see more opportunities for residents to take part meaningfully, whether through town hall forums, citizens’ assemblies, or advisory bodies that are actually supported.

Public participation should be more than being told what has already been decided.

We can do better than that.