Globe & Mail by Jeffery Jones.  A big supporter of oil sands industry expansion, as well as export pipelines such as Keystone XL, Jeff Immelt said he wants to share his company’s environmental technology as a way to win over critics concerned about the climate impact of the oil sands.

Respecting the "Duty to Consult"

by

Dave Harbour

Canada's "Duty to Consult" (1,2) is not and should not be just a legal requirement for natural resource companies — it is a basic principle of good communications, responsible corporate citizenship, or, at the least, enlightened self interest.

To consult, cooperate and communicate with the public in general and stakeholders specifically, is both a responsibility to shareholders and the public obligation of a responsible project manager — as we have discovered in both Alaska and Canada.

In short, project consultation with all relevant parties is as important to the success of a project as good design, engineering and construction.

Corporate managers who fail to embrace this reality will be more likely to take superbly engineered project blueprints to their graves than to ribbon cutting ceremonies.

Stakeholders who take advantage of project managers through intimidation or when making unreasonable demands can, likewise, kill projects that would otherwise sustain local economies and families.

Thus, an effective process of consultation can only work well in an honestly regulated environment where the government and all parties respect due process and the rule of law is, accordingly, upheld.

(Continued tomorrow: July 10, 2014)