Stakeholders

Activities of the oil and gas industry often affect surrounding areas and populations. People with an interest in these activities are called stakeholders. They may include nearby residents of communities, First Nations, recreational land users, foresters and miners, fishing and shipping interests, local businesses, environmental groups and various government agencies as well as the operating company, its employees and contractors. Industry associations, government regulators and individual companies have policies and guidelines to make sure that stakeholders are consulted about industry operations.

Depending on the operation and its impacts, the public consultation can take many different forms. Major projects may involve formal public hearings, while a small development may just be discussed informally with those directly affected. The methods used for consultation by the oil and gas industry include: public meetings, open houses, advisory committees, facility tours, meetings with town councils and community organizations, small group meetings, one-on-one meetings, workshop sessions, trade shows, telephone contacts, questionnaires, surveys, brochures, newsletters, exhibits, news releases, media interviews, advertisements and toll-free telephone numbers.

Petroleum Communication Foundation. Our Petroleum Challenge: Exploring Canada's Oil and Gas Industry, Sixth Edition. Calgary: Petroleum Communication Foundation, 1999. With permission from the Centre for Energy.