This paper builds on previous research to address the question of whether there is practical valu... more This paper builds on previous research to address the question of whether there is practical value for a made-in-Ontario municipal management system standard (MSS) for wastewater and stormwater related activities, in addition to the Drinking Water Quality Management System Standard (DWQMS) that is already statutorily required. This research specifically addressed the questions: is there value in a mandatory or voluntary MSS; are there neutral, positive, or negative effects of having an MSS; and what standard is more adequate? Through a focus group method, this research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value an MSS in assisting municipalities in meeting their environmental objectives, addressing property damage risks, providing an additional mechanism of public accountability, and improving alignment with the legal structure. It was also apparent that there is no political appetite in the provincial government to embark on a mandated MSS, so the pref...
This study examines the governance approaches applying to Ontario's municipal water managemen... more This study examines the governance approaches applying to Ontario's municipal water management activities and observes an environmental policy convergence occurring in two different dimensions: across the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater aspects of municipal water activities with respect to governance approaches, and federal, provincial, and municipal governments in terms of drawing on private management system standards to supplement conventional regulatory requirements. This study supports the proposition that municipal water governance approaches are developed within a context that includes both state-based requirements and non-state market-oriented standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and this context facilitates convergence and calibration between and among state-based and private governance at the public policy level adopted by municipalities. In addition to increasing use of private environmental management systems (EMSs) by Ontario municipalities as method...
The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of manageme... more The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of management system standards (MSS) by assisting municipalities in meeting their human health protection, environmental objectives, addressing environmental and property damage risks, and providing an additional mechanism of public accountability and transparency. Semi-structured interviews were applied to assess perceptions with practitioners and environmental non-governmental organizations on whether a similar approach to the legally required drinking water quality management standard (DWQMS) could be applied for the municipal wastewater and stormwater sectors. Twelve Ontario municipalities have adopted or are in the process of adopting an ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) standard for their wastewater and/or stormwater systems, which represents 66% of Ontario’s population. With the large urban centres (e.g., Toronto, York Region, Durham Region, Halton Region and Peel Region) adopt...
The central question this dissertation attempts to answer is whether there is practical value in ... more The central question this dissertation attempts to answer is whether there is practical value in Ontario legislatively mandating that municipalities implement an environmental management system (EMS) standard for their wastewater and stormwater activities, to be added to the drinking water quality management system standard (DWQMS) that is already statutorily required. This research explores the evolving governance approaches of the municipal drinking, wastewater and stormwater sectors in Ontario, examining theories of governance, a review of the literature concerning policy convergence and standards as instruments of organizational innovation and the legal and policy framework within which municipal water management takes place.The research method employed a combination of semi-structured interviews, case studies and a focus group as data gathering techniques. The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of EMS by assisting municipalities in...
This paper builds on previous research to address the question of whether there is practical valu... more This paper builds on previous research to address the question of whether there is practical value for a made-in-Ontario municipal management system standard (MSS) for wastewater and stormwater related activities, in addition to the Drinking Water Quality Management System Standard (DWQMS) that is already statutorily required. This research specifically addressed the questions: is there value in a mandatory or voluntary MSS; are there neutral, positive, or negative effects of having an MSS; and what standard is more adequate? Through a focus group method, this research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value an MSS in assisting municipalities in meeting their environmental objectives, addressing property damage risks, providing an additional mechanism of public accountability, and improving alignment with the legal structure. It was also apparent that there is no political appetite in the provincial government to embark on a mandated MSS, so the pref...
This study examines the governance approaches applying to Ontario's municipal water managemen... more This study examines the governance approaches applying to Ontario's municipal water management activities and observes an environmental policy convergence occurring in two different dimensions: across the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater aspects of municipal water activities with respect to governance approaches, and federal, provincial, and municipal governments in terms of drawing on private management system standards to supplement conventional regulatory requirements. This study supports the proposition that municipal water governance approaches are developed within a context that includes both state-based requirements and non-state market-oriented standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and this context facilitates convergence and calibration between and among state-based and private governance at the public policy level adopted by municipalities. In addition to increasing use of private environmental management systems (EMSs) by Ontario municipalities as method...
The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of manageme... more The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of management system standards (MSS) by assisting municipalities in meeting their human health protection, environmental objectives, addressing environmental and property damage risks, and providing an additional mechanism of public accountability and transparency. Semi-structured interviews were applied to assess perceptions with practitioners and environmental non-governmental organizations on whether a similar approach to the legally required drinking water quality management standard (DWQMS) could be applied for the municipal wastewater and stormwater sectors. Twelve Ontario municipalities have adopted or are in the process of adopting an ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) standard for their wastewater and/or stormwater systems, which represents 66% of Ontario’s population. With the large urban centres (e.g., Toronto, York Region, Durham Region, Halton Region and Peel Region) adopt...
The central question this dissertation attempts to answer is whether there is practical value in ... more The central question this dissertation attempts to answer is whether there is practical value in Ontario legislatively mandating that municipalities implement an environmental management system (EMS) standard for their wastewater and stormwater activities, to be added to the drinking water quality management system standard (DWQMS) that is already statutorily required. This research explores the evolving governance approaches of the municipal drinking, wastewater and stormwater sectors in Ontario, examining theories of governance, a review of the literature concerning policy convergence and standards as instruments of organizational innovation and the legal and policy framework within which municipal water management takes place.The research method employed a combination of semi-structured interviews, case studies and a focus group as data gathering techniques. The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of EMS by assisting municipalities in...
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