Discourse Network Analysis of the Northern Gateway Pipeline Project: assessing environmental governance in the Joint Review Panel process

Abstract

An assessment of the effectiveness of the Joint Review panel environmental impact assessment of the Northern Gateway pipeline project, utilizing discourse network analysis and the Advocacy Coalition Framework. The creation of a discourse network reflective of public perceptions of the project is used to evaluate the policy recommendations made by the Joint Review Panel, and reveals that although functioning well as a site of public engagement, the Joint Review Panel was unable to reflect this engagement in a balanced way in making policy recommendations.