Media Advisory - How Should Governments Deal with Risk?

Symposium with Media Availability

CALGARY, June 20, 2014 /CNW/ - In light of recent weather events in Alberta and Southern Ontario, and the growing national conversations about the environmental risks associated with pipelines, it's time to have a serious conversation about what risk is, and how governments should deal with it.  What is the probability that Calgary will experience the same kind of flooding that it did in  2013? What are the potential impacts of a pipeline leaking?

Governments have a hard time assessing risk, because there aren't good definitions of risk and its consequences.  That's why The School of Public Policy is hosting a symposium devoted to the nature of risk in policy and regulatory decision-making. Special attention will be paid to defining risks, identifying how various risks can be measured and to what extent they should affect policy. Sessions will focus on topical risk areas, like current and proposed pipelines.

The symposium will feature blue-chip presenters from across North America.  The symposium will be chaired by noted energy economist Michal Moore.  A sample list of presenters follows:

• William Leiss, McLaughlin Center for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa
• Robert Barclay, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Calgary
• Bruce Burrell, Calgary Fire Department
• Scott Patten, Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary
• Patrick Balducci, Pacific Northwest Laboratory
• Kevin Simmons, Department of Economics, Austin College
• Kim Blanchette, Alberta Energy Regulator
• Paul Kovacs, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
• Jean Savy, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
• Vice Admiral (Ret.) Richard Truly
• Paul Jeakins, BC Oil and Gas Commission
• Mary Reid, Department of Environmental Science, University of Calgary
• Ed Whittingham, Pembina Institute
• Mike Ekelund, Strategic Initiatives Division, Energy, Government of Alberta
• Ian Lee, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University
• John Radke, Center for Catastrophic Risk Management, University of California, Berkeley

WHAT:	Symposium on Risk in Public Policy.  Media welcome throughout sessions.  Interview requests welcome for any presenter.
WHERE:	5^th Floor, 906 – 8^th Avenue SW  Calgary, Alberta
WHEN:	Sessions run Monday, June 23^rd from 1 pm to 4:30pm. Then Tuesday June 24^th from 8:45am to 4 pm (all times mountain)

SOURCE: The School of Public Policy - University of Calgary

For further information: Media contact for onsite assistance or media requests:Morten Paulsen, Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail]­