Taking care of business? An evaluation of public engagement with local businesses along the Canada Line

This thesis examines the consultation process with affected businesses before and during construction of the Canada Line, a rapid transit line in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, and one of the first public private partnerships in the region. The objective is to examine an academic theory on effective public consultation against a real world situation, specifically by determining and evaluating how a collaborative model of participation was implemented to reduce tension between the Canada Line partners and businesses affected by its construction. Research data was compiled from a survey with businesses along the Line and interviews with stakeholders involved in the consultation process. Findings show that a collaborative participation model was introduced after it was revealed that the project would be built using predominantly cut-and-cover construction. Several principles of collaborative participation could have improved relations between Canada Line partners and businesses if they had been applied earlier in the planning process.