THE STRATEGIC PLAN

COLLABORATIVE PLANNING MODEL 

• ESSIM Forum
• Stakeholder Advisory Council 
• Government Sector Structure
• ESSIM Planning Office

The ESSIM Initiative employs a multi-stakeholder, collaborative planning approach, meaning the work of developing and implementing the Plan is done by all sectors and stakeholders. The underlying premise is that a plan developed through collaboration will be broadly accepted and used by all.

This section describes the collaborative planning model designed to support the integrated management process. The collaborative planning model is not intended to supersede or interfere with the ability of federal and provincial departments and agencies to carry out their legislative mandates. They retain their authority, but work with other stakeholders to develop and pursue shared goals and objectives through the integrated management process. If policy or regulatory adjustments are needed to achieve these goals and objectives, authority for making such adjustments rests with the responsible department or agency.

The collaborative planning model has the following components:

• The ESSIM Forum
• The Stakeholder Advisory Council
• The Government Sector Structure (Regional Committee on Ocean Management and Federal-Provincial ESSIM Working Group)
• The ESSIM Planning Office (DFO)

ESSIM FORUM

Purpose: The ESSIM Forum provides an inclusive assembly for all stakeholders to participate in the collaborative planning process. It serves as a network for multi-stakeholder communications, information sharing and input to the ESSIM Initiative.

Membership: The ESSIM Forum is open to all stakeholders and interested individuals. Sectoral participation includes government, coastal communities, Aboriginal groups, fisheries, oil and gas, marine conservation, telecommunications, shipping and academia.

Leadership: The ESSIM Forum does not have a formal leadership structure, such as a chair or co-chairs. Leadership is provided jointly by the Stakeholder Advisory Council and the government sector structure, with coordination and support from the ESSIM Planning Office.

Meetings: Regular (i.e., biennial) meetings are held to review and discuss progress and to provide input and guidance for planning. Community or sector workshops may also be held for information sharing, topical discussion and feedback, as required. Ongoing communication with ESSIM Forum participants is
provided through regular e-newsletters, web-based information and online discussions.

Decisions: The ESSIM Forum is not a decision-making body.

Functions and Responsibilities:

• Develop broad vision, goals and strategic direction for the ESSIM Initiative.
• Function as an inclusive, multi-stakeholder forum for information exchange and dialogue.
• Review and provide feedback on planning documents and materials, including action plans and performance evaluations.
• Provide ideas, opinions and advice on a range of topics of importance for the Plan.

STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COUNCIL

Purpose: The Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC) shares the responsibility for leadership and guidance in meeting the vision for the ESSIM Initiative. The SAC operates on a consensus basis for the stewardship of the Plan and undertakes monitoring and evaluation functions for plan implementation. The SAC works in partnership with the ESSIM Planning Office by providing input into content of the Plan and ongoing feedback as the Plan evolves. The SAC also works collaboratively with the various stakeholder groups and the intergovernmental Regional Committee on Ocean Management.

Membership: The SAC is broadly representative of ocean sectors, communities of interest and stakeholders. The membership is balanced by sector as well as other criteria, such as group size, capacity, commitment and history. Members represent or are representative of sectors or the public. The optimum group size is 30 (± 2), and various methods, such as coalitions and selective or rotational participation, will be used to keep the group at a manageable level. Members may be appointed for two-year and three-year staggered terms to ensure continuity.

Leadership: Co-chairs are provided by a senior DFO representative and by a representative from the SAC membership. Co-chairs may rotate on an annual basis. Co-chairs should have the ability to be neutral when dealing with issues among multiple sectors or parties, have the confidence and respect of the members, and be able to resolve conflict and move a diverse group toward consensus. Co-chairs may need additional representation at the table for their respective organizations.

Meetings: The SAC meets quarterly at a minimum. As necessary, task groups may meet more frequently.

Decisions: Decisions regarding the Plan and planning process are made by consensus. Consensus means unanimous agreement of the members. Interest-based negotiation (i.e., mutual gains) is the preferred format for dialogue.

The SAC has protocols for working through situations in which consensus is difficult to reach, or where conflict needs to be resolved. A facilitator is available to provide support to the SAC. The facilitator is content neutral and assists the group in conducting dialogue and reaching consensus.

Routine administrative decisions are made by consensus, or when time or other factors interfere, by majority vote.

Functions and Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, guidance and stewardship for development and implementation of the Plan.
• Maintain terms of reference, and develop ground rules and protocols to support and guide the work of the group.
• Develop sub-committees or working groups as needed.
• Engage in multi-stakeholder dialogue, conflict resolution and consensus-building.
• Provide input into the planning process and feedback on work done by the ESSIM Planning Office.
• Liaise with parallel sector structures, including the Federal-Provincial ESSIM Working Group, and provide advice to the Regional Committee on Ocean Management, as necessary.
• Carry out ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Plan and its implementation, as well as collaborate on future revisions as necessary.

GOVERNMENT SECTOR STRUCTURE

The government sector structure consists of the Regional Committee on Ocean Management and Federal-Provincial ESSIM Working Group.

Regional Committee on Ocean Management (RCOM)

Purpose: The Regional Committee on Ocean Management (RCOM) is the senior executive level forum for federal and provincial departments and agencies with ocean-related programs. The RCOM provides coordination at the intergovernmental and interdepartmental levels for:

• Planning, management and regulatory matters related to integrated ocean and coastal management.
• Internal oversight, monitoring and performance assessment of regional integrated management processes.
• Formal and executive level government involvement in the development and implementation of plans for regional integrated management processes.
• Regional implementation of national ocean policies and programs.

The RCOM is a body of decision makers, each with mandated decision-making powers at the zonal and regional level. The RCOM provides advice and recommendations to mandated decision-making processes to be implemented via the relevant government departments, agencies and boards.

The geographic focus for the RCOM is Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Membership: The membership is comprised of senior federal (Regional Director-General) and provincial (Deputy-Minister) representatives of government departments and agencies.

Leadership: The RCOM is co-chaired by the Regional Director-General, DFO Maritimes Region and Gulf Region, and a Deputy-Minister of the Province of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island, on a rotational basis.

Meetings: The RCOM meets on a semi-annual basis, or as necessary.

Decisions: The RCOM makes decisions by consensus. Recommendations are non-binding on departments, agencies and boards.

Functions and Responsibilities:

• Represent the federal and provincial governments at the executive level in regional integrated ocean and coastal management processes.
• Provide direction to operational level government committees for integrated ocean and coastal management processes throughout the region (e.g., the Federal-Provincial ESSIM Working Group).
• Serve in an advisory capacity to the federal and provincial Ministerial level through existing government line mechanisms.
• Strive to reach consensus while representing departmental/organizational mandates and considering the range of opinion.
• Review and comment on integrated ocean and coastal management plans, policy papers, and initiatives.
• Provide coordination and harmonization of regulatory approaches, policies and programs across government with respect to regional integrated management processes.
• Monitor and review planning, policy coordination and program implementation across government.
• Support and oversee information sharing among departments and agencies to support initiatives led by one or more departments and agencies represented on the RCOM.

Federal-Provincial ESSIM Working Group

Purpose: The Federal-Provincial ESSIM Working Group is an intergovernmental forum to focus on policy, management, operations and regulatory coordination for the ESSIM Initiative. The Working Group builds government support and cohesion for integrated ocean management and provides an opportunity for information sharing and discussion of issues. It carries out work in support of RCOM and as directed by RCOM.

Membership: Representatives of over 20 ocean-related federal and provincial departments, agencies and boards that have some regulatory responsibility and policy or program interest in the planning area.

Leadership: The Working Group is chaired by the Regional Manager, Oceans and Coastal Management Division (OCMD), DFO Maritimes Region.

Meetings: The Working Group meets approximately four to five times per year, or more frequently as necessary.

Decisions: The Working Group makes decisions by consensus. Decisions are advisory in nature and nonbinding on departments, agencies or boards.

Functions and Responsibilities:

• Provide ongoing support and advice to the senior level RCOM in carrying out its functions and responsibilities.
• Coordinate governmental and departmental input to integrated ocean management processes.
• Provide guidance on the identification, definition and prioritization of ocean management issues and requirements.Support the development and implementation of the Plan, including the monitoring and evaluation of management strategies and actions.

ESSIM PLANNING OFFICE

Purpose: The ESSIM Planning Office in cooperation with the Stakeholder Advisory Council and the government sector structure provides shared leadership and coordination for development and implementation of the Plan.

Membership: The ESSIM Planning Office is housed within the Oceans and Coastal Management Division (OCMD) of DFO Maritimes Region. It is possible that the core resources provided by DFO could be augmented by resources from other government departments, and eventually by non-governmental groups (e.g., staff secondments and internships).

Leadership: The ESSIM Planning Office has regional and national line reporting relationships within DFO.

Meetings: The ESSIM Planning Office leads and facilitates the organization of meetings for the Stakeholder Advisory Council, the government sector structure and the broader ESSIM Forum.

Decisions: The Planning Office has decision-making authority consistent with its line reporting relationships within DFO. The Planning Office may also participate in decision making within other components of the collaborative planning model according to applicable processes (e.g., consensus-based).

Functions and Responsibilities:

• Provide expertise in development and implementation of the Plan.
• Support the collaborative planning model, including coordination functions for the ESSIM Forum, the Stakeholder Advisory Council and the government sector structure.
• Ensure that all sectors and stakeholders have input into discussions at the appropriate level, and that a range of engagement mechanisms is available to those who are unable to participate in group processes.
• Liaise with other regional, national and international integrated management processes.