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Ministry of Forests Administrative Staff Team Building and Conflict Prevention. (March 2007) Alex Grzybowski was retained to provide conflict prevention training and team building support to administrative support staff that were encountering challenges in working together. The process has yielded very positive results according to the staff managers.
Boreal Forest Conservation Principles. (2005-Present) In 2004, the Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI) and the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the conservation of boreal forests. Since then, they have been engaged in ongoing discussions with regard to the implementation of the MOU, including a facilitated multi-party workshop that produced a consensus proceedings report with action items and recomendations, and ongoing facilitated discussions associated with developing a conservation planning framework.
Joint Solutions Project. (2000-Present) Five forest companies (Weyerhaeuser, Norske
Canada , Western Forest Products, Canfor and Interfor) and four Environmental
groups (Greenpeace, Sierra Club, Rainforest Action Network and ForestEthics)
are undertaking a joint initiative (the Joint Solutions Project)
to support the development of an ecosystem based framework for forest
management and planning on the central and north coast of British
Columbia. Pacific Resolutions has played a key role in facilitating and mediating broad coastal agreements in highly conflicted areas.
Corporate/ENGO Mediation. (2001-Present) Pacific Resolutions was retained to mediate ongoing discussions between a major Canadian forest products company and an international environmental organization regarding a variety of conservation issues associated with the company's operations throughout Canada. The parties have successfully dealt with a number of issues.
Conservation Investments and Incentives Initiative. (2002-2004) The
Conservation Investments and Incentives Initiative(CIII)
is a joint initiative of the Province of British Columbia and a group
of philanthropic foundations to ascertain the feasibility of using
conservation based investment and financing instruments in coastal
British Columbia. The initial phase of this initiative operated
through a Steering Committee facilitated by Pacific Resolutions.
Coast Information
Team. (2001-2003) The Coast Information Team (CIT) is an independent,
international science team mandated to develop locally and internationally
credible information and advice on Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM)
for land use planning processes on the Central and North Coast and
Queen Charlotte Islands\Haida Gwaii in British Columbia. The CIT
was established as a result of multi-party land use policy agreements
in 2001 (see Central Coast Agreement referenced below). The CIT Funding
Agreement among the Provincial Government, Forest Companies, Environmental
Groups and First Nations, provided in excess of $3.0 million to finance
the initiative. Key CIT products include an overarching EBM Framework,
the EBM Planning Handbook, the Hydroriparian planning Guide and “The
Scientific Basis of EBM”. Development of these products required
in depth discussions and consensus building among a wide range of
scientists and interested stakeholders. Multi-party planning processes
have adopted all of these products as the basis for implementing
EBM in coastal BC.
BC Coastal Forest Sector
Restructuring. (2001-2003) Coastal forest companies, the IWA-Canada,
the Truck Loggers Association retained Pacific Resolutions to mediate discussions to resolve
issues related to restructuring of the coastal forest sector.
Forest Stewardship Council Certification
Standard. (2001-2002) The FSC standard is an international standard
of forest product certification. The FSC standard for British Columbia
was negotiated by representatives of Economic, Environmental, Social,
and First Nations Chambers.
Watershed Restoration Program. (1998-1999) The Watershed Restoration program was a province wide program aimed at restoring watersheds that had been negatively affected by forestry practices. Pacific Resolutions assisted the program managers in refining the program to increase net benefits and ease of implementation. Pacific Resolutions faciliated regional working group discussions on program improvements, provided advice to program managers and drafted reports and recommendations for program improvements.
Forest Sector Strategy
Committee. (1993-1997) This committee consisted of 28 participants,
including the Minister of Forests, 7 Deputy Ministers, the CEO's
and/or Presidents of ten forest sector companies, the Presidents
of the IWA, CEP, and PPWC and senior representatives drawn from the
aboriginal community, the conservation/environmental community, the
coastal and interior logging sector, the university and research
community and municipal government. The consensus recommendations
of the process had a significant role in the creation and development
of the Forest Renewal Plan and other public policy initiatives impacting
the forest sector in the mid 1990’s.
Timber Harvesting Contract and Subcontract
Mediations. (1992-1994) Forest products companies and logging contractors,
or logging contractors and subcontractors, employed Pacific Resolutions to resolve conflict issues under the Provincial Timber Harvesting Contract and Subcontract
Regulation using mediation and arbitration.
Coastal and Interior Joint Review of Timber Harvesting
Contracts and Subcontracts Regulation. (1992-1994) Forest Industry
Associations, the IWA-Canada, and Contract Loggers' Associations
developed consensus recommendations, with the assistance of Pacific Resolutions, to amend to the Timber Harvesting
Contract and Subcontract Regulation. These recommendations were
adopted by the Provincial Government and the regulation was amended
accordingly.
Salmon Aquaculture Framework. (2005-Present) Pacific Resolutions was retained to mediate/facilitate discussions between the largest salmon farming company in BC and a coalition of environmental organizations regarding salmon aquaculture in the Broughton Archipelago. The discussion resulted in agreement regarding specific issues, a "Framework for Dialogue" and collaborative research.
British Columbia Pacific Salmon Forum. (2005) The BC Pacific Salmon Forum retained Pacific Resolutions to assist in the development of a strategic plan to achieve the Forum's mandate through faciliation of a workshop and pre-workshop consultation with each of the Forum members.
Out of Court Settlement between Fish Camp Operators and LWBC. (2005) Pacific Resolutions facilitated an agreement on an out of court settlement between Fish Camp operators and LWBC regarding outstanding litigation over unpaid lease fees.
Review of Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s Participation
Processes. (2000-2001) The Department contracted the University of
Victoria Institute for Dispute Resolution to conduct an independent
public review of its consultation and decision making processes.
Pacific Resolutions Directors and Associates provided project management
and facilitation support to the initiative and drafted the final
report and recommendations.
Federal Provincial Watershed Based Fish Sustainability
Planning Framework. (2000) This
planning framework for watershed based fish and fish habitat management
was developed through committee discussions, workshops
and negotiation sessions facilited by Pacific Resolutions, involving headquarters and regional staff
from Federal and Provincial Fisheries agencies and NGO’s.
Federal Provincial Fish Habitat Protection Agreement Negotiations. (1998) Headquarters
and regional staff from Federal and Provincial Fisheries agencies
and NGO’s engaged in facilitated negotiations and workshops
to develop the Fish Habitat Management Agreement.
Canadian Roundtable on Social Responsibility and Canadian Extractive Industries Operating in Third World Countries. (2006-Present) The Rountable consists of representatives of eight federal government agencies, academia, civil society and the extractive industries (mining industry, mineral exploration industry and oil and gas). Public meetings, facilitated by Pacific Resolutions, were conducted in which the Roundtable heard submissions from over 160 persons.
BC Hydro Electricity Conservation and Efficiency Committee. (2006-Present) This initiative consists of a facilitated 24 person advisory committee convened to advise BC Hydro on electricity conservation and efficiency measures. It is anticipated that one third of the expected 25 to 45 percent increase in electricity demand in BC will have to be met through conservation and efficiency. Pacific Resolutions is facilitating this committee on an ongoing basis.
Greater Vancouver Skytrain Development. (1998-2000) The Rapid Transit Project Office (RTPO) was responsible for construction of phase one of the Skytrain in Vancouver. This included meeting all relevant governmental decision process requirements including public consultation. Pacific Resolutions was retained by the RTPO over a two year period to assist with the design and implementation of the public consultation process and to advise on various issues including meeting relevant provincial and federal environmental impact assessment requirements.
British Columbia Advisory Council on Mining. (1994-1996) This
initiative consisted of senior representatives from the mining industry,
the environmental community, the labor community, the academic community
and the Minister, Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Minister (Mineral Resources) of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum
Resources. The mandate of the Council was to oversee the implementation
of the Whitehorse Mining Initiative Accord in British Columbia and
to address issues which may arise among stakeholder groups with
respect to mining in British Columbia. Pacific Resolutions was retained to provide strategic and process advice with respect to convening the Council, serve as an independent Chairperson of the Council and mediate and faciliate Council disussions.
Whitehorse Mining
Initiative. (1993-1994) The Whitehorse Mining Initiative is a national
mining strategy developed through a complex multy-party participation
process that involved senior executive representation from the private
and public sector as well as NGO leaders and Members of Parliament.
The strategy was developed by consensus through intensively facilitated
dialogue.
Ecosystem Based Management Working Group Director. (July 2007 ongoing) Alex Grzybowski was retained by the Provincial Government and multiple coastal First Nations (Aboriginal peoples) to facilitate and lead a team of representatives of provincial agencies, First Nations, Environmental Groups, communities, and forest companies mandated to provide information and recommendations on the implementation of EBM on the central and north coast of British Columbia (“Great Bear Rainforest”).
Bella Coola Helisports and First Nations Protocol Arrangements. (June 2007 ongoing) Alex Grzybowski was retained by Bella Coola Helisports to lead negotiations of protocol arrangements including revenue sharing arrangements between the company and 7 First Nation’s whose territories the company operates within.
Integrated Land Management Bureau and Hupacasath First Nation Protocol and Issue Resolution Process. (December 2006 to March 2007) Alex Grzybowski was retained by both ILMB and the Hupacasath Nation to facilitate negotiation of the terms of a Protocol for effective working relations between the Nation and the agency and the steps in a pragmatic process for resolving critical land and resource use issues. The Protocol terms have been agreed to as have the steps in the process.
Integrated Land Management Bureau and Wet’suwet’en First Nation Consultation Framework. (December 06 to March 2007) Alex Grzybowski was retained by ILMB and the Wet’suwet’en Nation to facilitate negotiation of a mutually acceptable process for fulfilling the legal obligations related to Aboriginal Rights and Title which may be affected by decisions taken under the provincial Land Act. The process has been agreed to at the negotiator level and is now undergoing further internal review.
Province of BC Consultations with First Nations regarding Landfills. (February to March 2006). Alex Grzybowski was retained to facilitate consultations between the Ministry of Environment and the Haisla, the Kitsumkalum, the Kitselas, and the House of Spookw regarding the siting and expansion of landfills in the vicinity of Terrace and Hazelton. Many of the participating First Nations representatives and the provincial staff responsible for the process indicated their strong endorsement for how this process was facilitated.
Land Use Planning Protocol. (2006-Present) A priority action identified in the Mountain Pine Beetle Workshop (see below) was the need for First Nations and the Province to jointly develop a land use planning framework that can be used to establish a land use vision and land use plans supported by both First Nations and the Province, and to jointly develop a work plan and address resourcing and capacity issues to undertake this work. Facilitated discussions are ongoing among representatives from the provincial Integrated Land Management Bureau, the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconcilliation and the First Nations Forestry Council.
St'at'imc Province of BC Protocol Implementation. (2004-Present) Pacific Resolutions assisted in the development of a mutually acceptable approach and principles to resolving land and resource issues between the St'at'imc Nation and the Provincial Government. Multiple agreements and functional working relationships were developed. Ultimately negotiations resulted in a milestone agreement which included a land use plan decision, economic measures and a collaborative decision making process.
Hupacasath ILMB MOU Terms and Land Use Planning Issue Resolution Process. (2007) Lack of a cooperative approach to addressing land use planning issues within the Hupacaseth traditional territory was resolved through interest-based negotiation mediated by Pacific Resolutions. MOU terms and an Issue Resolution Process were developed between the Integrated Land Management Bureau and the Hupacaseth First Nation.
Wet'suwet'en ILMB Land Act Referral Network. (2007) A Land Act Referral Framework was developed between the Integrated Land Management Bureau (ILMB) and the Wet'suwet'en Nation establishing a mutually acceptable process for consultation on Land Act Decisions.
Province of BC Consultations with First Nations regarding Landfills. (2006) Pacific Resolutions was retained to facilitate consultations between the Ministry of Environment and the Haisla, the Kitsumkalum, the Kitselas and the House of Spookw regarding the siting and expansion of landfills in the vicinity of Terrace and Hazelton. Many of the participating First Nations representatives and the provincial staff responsible for the process indicated their strong endorsement for how this process was facilitated.
Mountain Pine Beetle Workshop. (2006) Land use planning in British Columbia has been carried out for the past 15 years through land use planning processes involving multiple stakeholders. With the exception of a few of these processes, most First Nations have not participated nor do they recognize these land use plans in relation to their traditional territories. At the same time, First Nations have been developing their own land use plans for their traditional territories. In addition, in 2005, the provincial government and First Nations Leadership Council officially entered into a New Relationship. As part of this, the provincial government and First Nations determined there was a need to work together to develop strategic land use plans that could be supported by both parties, as well as developing immediate practical solutions to priorty land use issues such as the mountain pine beetle epidemic. A workshop with 50 participants from First Nations and provincial government agencies was intensively facilitated by Pacific Resolutions. A consensus proceedings report was developed with action items and recommendations.
Coastal First Nations Land Use Plan Integration Scoping. (2004) The Coastal First Nations (formally Turning Point) retained Pacific Resolutions to facilitate development of an approach to reconciling the overlapping land use plans of five of the First Nations involved in the organization. During a two day facilitated discussion, representatives of each of the five Nations identified the areas within their land use plans where differences would have to be resolved and agreed on, and determined the principles and key process elements that would guide them towards this resolution.
Kitasoo Xaixais Gitga'at Protocol and Pilot Project. (2001-2003) Two
First Nations on the BC coast (Gitga’at and Kitasoo Xaixais)
spearheaded this pilot project, which focused on collaborative testing
and development of Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) concepts and methodologies as well as Conservation
Financing models. The pilot was initiated and jointly funded on the
basis of a protocol agreement between these First Nations,
forest companies and environmental groups. Over a two year period,
the pilot process developed and delivered EBM concepts and methodologies
that made significant contributions to the Coast Information Team,
FN planning processes and provincially sponsored multi-party planning
processes. Pacific Resolutions mediated and facilitated the Protocol and then coordinated and facilitated the pilot from convening through completion.
Strategic Planning and Mediation Training with Esketemc First Nation. (2001) The Esketemc First Nation live in the Alkali Lake area and were involved in the Treaty process and informal discussions with local non-First Nations communities regarding improved relationships between First Nations and non-First Nations. Pacific Resolutions was retained by the Esketemc to assist them with internal strategic planning regarding both the Treaty process and talks with other communities, as well as to provide mediation and negotiation training.
Order in Council 1036 Negotiations. (1997-1998) The Province of British Columbia and the First Nations Summit engaged
in discussions facilitated/mediated by Pacific Resolutions regarding a resolution of outstanding issues related
to Order in Council 1036 and, in particular, issues associated with
the resumptive clause in this Order in Council and other issues associated
with public access through reserve land.
Business at the Summit. (1995-1998) Business
at the Summit is a one day annual conference facilitated by Pacific Resolutions involving more than
100 leaders in the business community and representatives of First
Nations from across the province.
Anahim Round Table. (1992-1994) The Ulkatcho First Nation and local stakeholder groups from the Anahim Lake area requested support from the BC Commission on Resources and Environment to support the resolution of local land use and forest management issues. A Pacific Resolutions director provided project management, facilitation and training support to the initiative. A round table was convened which involved 29 representatives from a wide range of resource and environmental interests, as well as representatives of the Ulkatcho and the Province. An agreement on a comprehensive resource management plan for the Ulkatcho traditional territory was reached. In addition, the Ulkatcho and the local forest company established a business partnership to undertake forest development in keeping with the plan.
Okanagan Reservoir Lakes. (2007-Present) Pacific Resolutions was retained to provide faciliation support to the resolution of issues associated with the conversion of recreational leaseholds to private lands on high elevation reservoir lakes in the Okanagan.
East Kootenay Strategic Trench Plan Scoping. (2006) The Integrated Land Management Bureau retained Pacific Resolutions to assist conflicted recreation stakeholder groups in developing agreed upon recommendations for coordinating planning initiatives in the Rocky Mountain Trench of the East Kootenays. The stakeholders reached agreement on the recommendations after two months of negotiations.
Cranbrook West Recreation Management Strategy. (2005) Severe conflict between motorized recreation groups and non-motorized recreation and environmental groups was undermining the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management's ability to conduct a planning process. More than 20 representatives of recreation and environmental groups, local government and provincial agencies participated in a mediated process to agree on a Recreation Management Strategy.
Joint Use Agreement Between Tourism Operations . (2004-2005) Expansion of backcountry tourism operations in all regions of the province of BC is resulting in increasing conflicts between different types of tourism activities. Operators are required to develop joint use agreements to increase compatibility and sustainability where operations overlap. Pacific Resolutions was retained to mediate joint use agreements among highly conflicted heli-ski and backcountry ski operations in Golden, among snowmobile operations in Revelstoke, and among heli-ski companies, a cat-ski operation, a hunting guide operation and seven snowmobile operations in the Whistler area. Each of these negotiation processes resulted in agreement.
Heli-ski Snowmobile Conflicts. (2004)
Heli-skiers and snowmobilers are increasingly coming into
conflict in eastern BC as a result of improved access and technological
improvements to snowmobiles. Both activities support substantial
business investments and opportunities as well as millions of dollars
in local and provincial economic benefits. The conflicts undermine
the quality of these different recreational experiences and threaten
the sustainability of the related businesses and economy. The Ministry
of Sustainable Resource Management retained Pacific Resolutions to
mediate discussions between two major heliski operators and snowmobile
representatives from Valemount. The mediation resulted in a comprehensive
agreement between the parties which provides for spatial separation
of the activities and joint investment in a Community Development
Corporation to help develop the snowmobile industry in Valemount.
Commercial Recreation Tenure Negotiations. (2004)
The relationship between the Purcell Wilderness Lodge and Purcell Heli-skiing had reached the highly acrimonious stage due to a longstanding dispute over overlapping operating areas. Pacific Resolutions mediated an agreement that resolved the dispute and separated the operations.
Land and Resource Management Planning
Processes. (1997-2005) LRMP processes are multi-party round table negotiation
processes that address land use issues over large areas of British
Columbia. The issues are complex, involving environmental, social
and economic variables such as protecting biodiversity and wilderness,
while maintaining community stability and economic development opportunities.
The processes employ facilitation, mediation and training to assist
the parties in resolving these issues by agreement. The Okanagan
Shuswap LRMP process reached agreement on their LRMP recommendations in
September, 2000. The Lillooet LRMP reached multi-stakeholder agreement to conclude the LRMP on the basis of Final Offer Selection in 2000. Stakeholders coalesced around two options for recommendation to government that reflected an unprecedented degree of common ground. The North Coast LRMP retained Pacific Resolutions to assist in process design, convening and training as well as mediation and facilitation in relation to finalizing recommendations. The Central Coast LRMP Table reached Agreement with mediated support from Pacific Resolutions
on an interim plan in March 2001 which resulted in suspension of
an international market campaign against coastal forest products
from BC and creation of several internationally significant protected
Areas – notably the Spirit Bear Protected Area. This agreement
was selected by Time Magazine as the “number one” environmental
achievement for 1999. More recently, the Central Coast LRMP Process has
reached a final Agreement which is now being considered on a Government
to Government basis between the Province of BC and relevant First
Nations.
Valemount Blue River SRMP. (2003-2004) Winter recreation conflicts in the Valemount Blue River area were resolved through multi-stakeholder agreement that formed the basis of the Valemount Blue River Sustainable Resource Management Plan.
Streamside Protection Regulation. (2002) Issues associated
with implementation of a provincial regulation requiring streamside
setbacks in urban areas precipitated a multi-party review of the
implementation of the regulation. The review process was structured
to produce both consensus recommendations as well as clear definition
of the alternative perspectives of the affected parties.
Range land management
and research near Kamloops. (2001) Research
programs within Agriculture Canada and the BC Provincial Ministry
of Forests were in conflict in the Opax\Mud Lakes area near Kamloops. Local ranchers and BC Parks were also affected. A mediation process
was implemented to resolve the issues by way of a long-term agreement
among all parties.
Lower Mainland Protected Areas Public Advisory Committee. (1995-1996) This
Advisory Committee consisted of representatives from the environmental
community, forestry industry, labor community, logging contractor
community, outdoor recreation community, mining industry, tourism
industry, and the municipal and provincial government. Consensus
recommendations on finalizing the Protected Areas Strategy in the
Lower Mainland were agreed to by the entire Committee in August,
1996 and subsequently accepted and acted upon by the provincial government
in their entirety in October, 1996.
Dunsmuir III Conference. (1996) Program design and faciliation were provided for a multi-sectoral conference discussing the current status of sustainability and land use in British Columbia.
Cariboo-Chilcotin CORE Process. (1992-1994) The
The Commission on Resources and Environment convened multi-stakeholder processes to develop land use strategies for several regions in British Columbia. Mediated negotiations were conducted with stakeholders from a wide range of interests including the provincial government, First Nations, forest companies, environmental organizations, tourism interests and mining organizations.
Western Strathcona Local Advisory Council. (1990-1991) The
Western Strathcona Local Advisory Council was initiated by the Ministry
of Forests and requested to produce by consensus a sustainable development
strategy for the Kyuquot Sound area on Northwest Vancouver Island. There were 25 participants including representatives of the forest
industry, mining industry, local native bands, environmental groups,
local communities, labor, government, and the fishing industry. The
Council achieved consensus on a strategy and submitted it to the
Ministry of Forests in April, 1991.
B.C. Labour Relations Code Section 3 Committee. (2002-Present) The
BC Minister of Labour established a facilitated committee of special
advisors under Section 3 of the Labour Relations Code to provide
the Minister with informed, independent, well-researched, objective
discussion, analysis and recommendations on fourteen issues. Since tabling its initial report, this committee has continued to function to provide the Minister of Labour with advice on an ad hoc basis.
New Forest Opportunities Ltd. (Collective Agreement). (1998-2001) A Pacific Resolutions Director was written into the Collective Agreement between New Forest Opportunities Ltd. and the IWA as the Issues Resolution Facilitator. This required the mediation of several issues in this capacity and the development of non-binding recommendations for the resolution of issues that the parties were unable to reach agreement on.
Kitimat and Area Community Health Council. (2000) The Council was responsible for overseeing the delivery of health care in Kitimat and surrounding communities. Pacific Reslutions was retained to assess conflicts associated with health care delivery in Kitimat and to subsequently facilitate discussions on the sustainable level of services and medical staff Bylaws.
Forest Worker Agency (Jobs and Timber Accord). (1997-1998) Mediation of outstanding issues regarding the structure/model to be used for the Forest Worker Agency established under the Jobs and Timber Accord. Separate negotiations were conducted for the interior and coastal regions of the province.
Railway Safety Review. (1995-1996) The Ministry of Municipal Affairs retained Pacific Resolutions to undertake an independent review of Division 105 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations enacted pursuant to the Railway Act. Joint recommendations were developed among reprentatives of management, labour and the Ministry.
North Cascades Grizzly Bear Task Force. (2002-2003) The
BC Ministry of Water, Air, and Land Protection convened facilitated
multi-stakeholder discussions to develop recommendations on a grizzly
bear recovery plan for the North Cascade region of British Columbia.
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