A Citizens' Reference Panel is a voluntary public jury for randomly-selected participants to deliberate over a series of meeting, collaborating on policy advice to offer their elected officials.
Problems and Purpose
A Citizens' Reference Panel is a non-compulsory public jury used in Canada to provide policy advice to public and elected officials. They are generally convened by the government or a public agency and typically meet several times over a period of weeks or months to learn about, discuss, and reach agreement (or alignment) on a contentious public issue.[1]
Citizens' Reference Panels will have anywhere from 14-54 citizens members, with equal numbers of men and women, while matching the age profile of the region or jurisdiction they represent. Much like a Royal Commission, the recommendations of a Citizens' Reference Panel are non-binding though they do carry moral stature.[1]
Origins and Development
Citizens' Reference Panels developed as an offshoot of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform in British Columbia in 2004 and in Ontario in 2006. Since then Citizens' Reference Panels have been used primarily for citizens to deliberate on healthcare issues in Canada.
Reference Panels are part of a so-called 'deliberative turn' in Canadian healthcare, beginning in 2002 with the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada which utilised dialogue and deliberative techniques to understand citizens' view on transforming the healthcare system in Canada. [2]
Participant Recruitment and Selection
Members of a Citizens' Reference Panel are randomly invited and selected during a civic lottery process. They are considered volunteers and with the exception of reimbursements for travel, they receive no financial compensation for their time.
How it Works: Process, Interaction, and Decision-Making
Citizens' Reference Panels appear similar in format to Citizens' Juries, although they may meet over a longer period of time than a CJ. One panel on health technologies met over a period of 18 months for five one-day meetings, whereas Juries usually meet for one or two day periods over a period of a few months.
Prior to meeting, information on the topic is circulated to participants through a workbook. The topic is decided beforehand by whoever is convening the panel and with key stakeholders. Like a Citizens' Jury, participants hear relevant evidence and information from a range of expertise, and take part in structured discussions and small group deliberation.
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
A number of Citizens' Reference Panels are documented on Participedia. Find out about the impact of the following cases:
- Halton Region Citizens’ Reference Panel on Strategic Priorities 2011 and 2015
- Mississauga-Halton Citizens' Reference Panel Integrated Health Services Plan
- Ontario Reference Panel on Health Technologies and on Integrated Health Services
- Citizens' Reference Panel on the Mental Health Action Plan for Canada
Analysis and Lessons Learned
Want to contribute an analysis of this method? Help us complete this section!
See Also
Citizens' Reference Panel on Health Technologies - Ontario Canada
Halton Region Citizens’ Reference Panel on Strategic Priorities 2011 and 2015
Mississauga-Halton Citizens' Reference Panel Integrated Health Services Plan
Ontario Reference Panel on Health Technologies and on Integrated Health Services
Citizens' Reference Panel on the Mental Health Action Plan for Canada
References
[1] Citizen's Reference Panel. Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens%27_Reference_Panel
[2] "Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada: The Romanow Commission." Government of Canada. Last modified April 30, 2009, http://tinyurl.com/yyrquw9k
External Links
PwC Canada - Healthcare Reference Panel: https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/industries/healthcare/citizen-reference-panel/about.html
MASS LBP Reference Panels (Canada): https://www.masslbp.com/work-panels
Wikipedia - Citizen Reference Panels: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens%27_Reference_Panel
Proso Project Eu - Citizens' Panel Methodology: http://www.proso-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/proso_d4.1_methodology_citizen_panels.pdf
Citizens' Panel in the EU: http://www.alda-europe.eu/newSite/good_pratices_dett.php?id=19
