Guideline for Managing Risks to the Public Interest in a Regulatory Context

This guideline lays out the principles and provides guidance to organizations primarily responsible for the management of public risk in Canada.

Organizations that can benefit from this guideline include government departments, regulatory agencies, crown corporations, non-profit organizations, private organizations or professional service organizations that participate in and have some level of responsibility for the management of risk that is borne by the public (i.e., external to the organizations themselves). Activities of these organizations might include:

·             drafting laws, regulations, rules, specifications, criteria, codes and standards, policies, or other requirements and, where necessary, applicable changes;

·             administering laws, regulations, rules, specifications, criteria, codes and standards, policies, or other requirements through such tools as: licensing, contracts, audits, inspections, permits, approval requirements, other compliance mechanisms or enforcement;

·             research, analysis and metrics; and

·             recommendations for process improvements.

This guideline is written primarily for organizations responsibly or exclusively accountable for the management of public health, public safety or security risks. However, the principles and guidance may be applicable to other sources and consequences of risk to public interest.  This document provides guidance on the following key aspects:

1.           Governance of Public Risk Management

2.           Foundational Principles for a Public Risk Management Framework

3.           Elements of a Public Risk Management Framework

This guideline does not provide specific methods and techniques for risk assessment and risk management but identifies key elements of a risk informed decision-making framework required to manage public risk. The guideline provides references to methods and techniques that may be used for undertaking specific actions such as risk assessment and risk management.