Stakeholder Engagement
Syncrude continuously engages external stakeholders to learn about their diverse needs and to ensure we make decisions that are fully informed. Our consultation strategy is based on stakeholder relevance and impact.
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Syncrude’s stakeholder engagement cycle helps us understand the concerns and
beliefs stakeholders have about potential impacts of proposed Syncrude activities.
Our consultation processes can be either formal (designed to shape an outcome)
or informal (information sharing and dialogue) and are determined by both
Syncrude and the affected stakeholder. They are guided by an overarching set of
consultation principles (view the consultation principles at www.syncrude.com/community) Also see discussion on consultation with our employees, page 32-34. |
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Stakeholder Engagement Highlights
Environmental Consultations
Eighteen formal consultations and
31 discussions and information sharing
meetings were held with the Wood Buffalo
Environmental Association. Among
the topics of discussion were terrestrial
environmental effects monitoring, the
Human Exposure Monitoring Program,
and ambient air monitoring.
Twenty-nine days of formal
consultation were conducted with the
Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program,
including 17 person-days of fieldwork.
Syncrude also participated in an additional
14 days of discussions and information
sharing meetings on technical, science
and communications issues related to
the work of the Program.
One hundred and seventeen days
of formal consultations were held with
the Cumulative Effects Monitoring
Association. Topics included work on air
emissions management, surface water
management, sustainable ecosystems,
trace metals and air contaminants,
vegetation, wetlands and aquatics, and
the Watersheds Integrity Task Group.
First Nations and Métis Meetings
Building on the success of a 2004 series
of consultations with Aboriginal Elders
that helped enhance Syncrude’s
understanding of environmental concerns,
Syncrude held 19 formal consultations
and seven reclamation tours with local
First Nations and Métis groups.
Regulatory License Renewal Meetings 
In support of Syncrude’s application
seeking renewal of its licenses under
the Alberta Environmental Protection
and Enhancement Act, which will be
filed in 2006, a series of discussions
were held with representatives of Alberta
Environment and the Industry Relations
Corporations of the Wood Buffalo
region’s five First Nations. Participants
agreed on a transparent and inclusive
process to meet stakeholder information
needs and answer questions arising from
the application.
Aboriginal Preservation Pamphlet
In an effort to encourage dialogue with
stakeholders about the historical and
cultural significance of ancient artifacts
found near Syncrude’s Aurora South
site, a pamphlet was produced for local
First Nations and Métis groups to aid
discussion on this topic. The findings
shed light on the ways of life of very
early generations of Aboriginal people
and suggest a stone quarry was once
active on the site. Plans are also
underway for interpretive exhibits in
Fort McKay and Fort Chipewyan.
Aboriginal Human Resources Development Council
Syncrude is working with the Aboriginal
Human Resources Development Council
of Canada on a national agenda to
encourage Aboriginal entry into trades
occupations. This includes taking
the successful Alberta Aboriginal
Apprenticeship Project model into other
provinces, and organizing trades symposia
in 2006 and 2008 to educate human
resources practitioners, businesses and
other organizations about successful
practices that can increase and accelerate
First Nation, Inuit and Métis entry into
trades occupations. Syncrude was
a founding member of the Council
and our President Jim Carter continues
to serve as a Council Champion.
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