Canadian Experience with Social Licence to Operate
Article from: OGEL 1 (2020), in Social Licence to Operate (SLO)
Abstract
In just a few years, the concept of 'social licence to operate' has emerged as the dominant consideration in the review of proposed resource development projects in Canada. 'No social licence' has become an effective rallying cry of project opponents in blocking individual developments. Surprisingly, the concept has also been adopted to some extent by industry and governments. Notwithstanding its pervasive role in public discourse on resource development, however, the concept has no agreed meaning and, more seriously, threatens the rule of law by insisting that the outcomes of ...