British Columbia parks and mines in conflict : an evaluation of resolution processes

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate alternative processes for resolving conflicts between mineral development, and park preservation interests in British Columbia. The peculiarities and variation within the generic conflict illustrate the divergence between two main interest groups, and the representative provincial resource agencies. A brief examination of eight cases demonstrates the conflict is manifest with different intensities, over a wide time range, and with geographic variety. By comparing the supposed weakness of the litigation model and the claimed advantages of the bargaining model for processing of conflict to resolution, five criteria for efficiency are developed: time and delay; cost; capacity for technical issues; opportunity for participation; and flexibility of outcomes. Examples of conflict dialogue illustrate cognitive, value, interest and behavioral conflict in the parks / mines situation with the aim that the reader and the researcher can have a communality of experience and tools for understanding in assessing the detailed case evidence. Detailed examination of the Wells Gray Provincial Park case and Chilko Lake Wilderness Park Proposal illustrate strong British Columbia examples of both litigation and bargaining models under the same time and political circumstance. Not all of the allegations of strength or weakness are substantiated in either case. The promise demonstrated in the unstructured version of bargaining found in the Chilko example may be improved through innovation and commitment.Applied Science, Faculty ofCommunity and Regional Planning (SCARP), School ofGraduat