A POLICY WINDOW OPENS: STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN YORK REGION, ONTARIO, CANADA

Denis Kirchhoff (), Dan McCarthy, Debbe D. Crandall, Laura McDowell and Graham Whitelaw
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Denis Kirchhoff: Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L3G1, Canada
Dan McCarthy: Social Innovation Generation, Department of Environment and Resources Studies, University of Waterloo, Canada
Debbe D. Crandall: Save the Oak Ridges Moraine Coalition, Canada
Laura McDowell: Engineering Water and Wastewater Branch, Transportation and Works Department, Regional Municipality of York, Canada
Graham Whitelaw: School of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Canada

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), 2010, vol. 12, issue 03, 333-354

Abstract: Government agenda setting has been a focus of research in the field of policy sciences for over two decades. The concept of a policy window is explored as a driver of governmental agenda setting. The Regional Municipality of York, Ontario, Canada was chosen as a case study for exploring the application of strategic environmental assessment at the municipal level through a policy window lens. Problem, policy and political streams converged to provide the necessary conditions for improved environmental assessment and infrastructure planning in York Region. A focusing event and the resulting crisis motivated stakeholders to identify and act on the problem. An SEA-type approach was initiated as one key response. A variety of activities were initiated by York Region including the development of a Sustainability Strategy, synchronisation of master planning, wider consideration of alternatives at the master plan level and improved public consultation. Conclusions are drawn and several recommendations are presented and discussed.

Keywords: Strategic environmental assessment; policy windows; growth management; Regional Municipality of York; sustainability; master plan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1142/S1464333210003632

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