Fair participation—a Canadian perspective

There has been a resurgence in interest in public participation as a component of planning policy agendas in recent times, with authorities providing ever increasing opportunities for citizens to influence decision-making processes. This has not resulted in greater public satisfaction with decisions, however. Procedural justice studies suggest that this dissatisfaction could relate to citizens’ perceptions of the fairness of the processes being followed. This article examines the role of the public in the regeneration of a former military base at Downsview Lands, Toronto, Canada, evaluates the experience in terms of fair participation and suggests lessons for similar projects elsewhere.