Stakeholder Relations
TransAlta’s stakeholders are drawn from all sectors of society affected by our operations. They include employees, regulators, government agencies, investors, local communities and environmental non-government organizations. The quality of our relationships with these diverse stakeholders is critical to the long-term success of our business. By engaging with stakeholders through open and regular communication and consultation, we deepen our understanding of what they expect from us and how we can meet their expectations.
Public consultation
We carry out public consultation practices that are designed to address areas of shared concern, and build strong relationships between TransAlta and our stakeholders. These practices cover a wide range: open houses, face-to-face meetings, plant and mine tours and presentations to citizen groups are but a few examples. Not only are these events an opportunity for us to share information about TransAlta’s activities and impacts, they also help us to demonstrate our commitment as a caring corporate citizen.
Here are some examples of how we engaged with stakeholders in 2004:
- We met monthly with Wabamun Watch, a stakeholder group consisting of mostly property owners around Wabamun Lake. The group’s role is to disseminate accurate and unbiased information about TransAlta’s operations and to ensure local citizens can provide input into decisions about TransAlta’s activities and proposed developments in the Wabamun Lake area. In 2004, the group provided feedback on various options in our long-term operational plan for the Wabamum Lake water treatment plant. During discussions of our license renewal application for the Highvale Mine, the group raised questions about the mine’s impact on local groundwater. We carried out detailed studies to address these questions.
- We surveyed readers of Kilowatt Connection, our quarterly newsletter to residents in the Wabamun Lake area, to find out whether our efforts to communicate with them were “hitting the mark.” Comments regarding the publication were largely positive, with 93 per cent of survey respondents saying that Kilowatt Connection is their preferred method for receiving information from TransAlta. Based on their feedback, we included updates on stakeholder committees and articles from external sources to bring more balance to the news and information we report.
- We held an open house near Seba Beach, Alberta. This meeting with residents, cottagers and other members of the public encouraged dialogue about our operations in the area, including our long-term plans for the Wabamun Lake water treatment facility and decommissioning of the Wabamun plant.
- We met with residents near our Alberta coal mines and used stakeholder input to improve our license renewable application for the Highvale mine. Measures for managing groundwater, dust and noise were incorporated in the application.
- We held open houses and consulted with individual landowners to discuss different aspects of our Summerview wind farm, which began operation in 2004. We followed up questions about potential noise levels from the wind farm by providing information on our various sound modeling tests.
Case study
Wabamun Watch
When TransAlta looks for feedback on how it communicates to the local community at Wabamun Lake on environmental issues, it regularly turns to Wabamun Watch, an environmental group consisting mostly of stakeholders from around the lake.
“We act as a sounding board for what people around the lake are looking for in terms of accurate information on TransAlta’s activities and the environmental health of the lake,” says Rob Dickie, an environmental consultant who chairs the eight-person group, formed in 2002 to disseminate accurate information from TransAlta as it relates to the lake.
To carry out its role, Wabamun Watch reviews reports by TransAlta, Alberta Environment and other groups, and shares information through public meetings, displays at the local farmer’s market and its website www.wabamunwatch.com. In 2004, Wabamun Watch met 10 times to discuss studies on water and sediment quality, water levels, local mercury emissions and updates on decommissioning of TransAlta’s Wabamun coal plant.
“The meetings provide an important forum for TransAlta to update us on their operating plans and environmental impacts,” says Dickie.
In 2004, when discussing TransAlta’s license renewal application for the Highvale mine, the group raised questions about the mine’s impact on local groundwater. TransAlta in turn provided detailed studies to address these questions.
“If we see data that is missing, we ask for it,” explains Dickie. “In the case of the mine application, our members wanted to better understand if deeper excavations can affect the groundwater in an adjacent community. So we asked for additional information and we got it. TransAlta has been very responsive for any information that we’ve asked for.”
After three years of chairing the organization, Dickie reports that he’s noticed a significant shift in local environmental concerns in the community.
“We’re starting to see decreased concerns from local stakeholders about the lake’s environment,” says Dickie. “Four years ago water levels in the lake were a hot issue. But today this is much less so. In fact, water levels are starting to come up significantly because of TransAlta’s water treatment plant.”
“Also, concerns about water quality are gradually being put to rest because of recent studies,” adds Dickie, referring to the work of an independent committee of scientists which spent much of 2004 reviewing scientific studies of Wabamun Lake. In early 2005, the committee, headed by Dr. David Schindler, reported its findings at a public meeting in Stony Plain, Alberta. Wabamun Watch members attended the meeting as an environmental “spokesperson” for area residents.
“Their findings concluded that with a few exceptions that the lake environment is in relatively good shape. This is positive and supports what TransAlta and Alberta Environment had said in the past. Today people are much happier with the condition of the lake.”
Aboriginal relations
Our operations are close to aboriginal communities in Alberta and Ontario. In Alberta, 380 kilometres (235 miles) of transmission facilities cross 11 First Nations lands, four hydro facilities border on lands belonging to the Stoney (Nakoda) First Nation and our coal plants and mines at Wabamun are located near the Paul and Alexis First Nations. In Ontario, our Sarnia gas plant is close to the Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
We are committed to building positive relationships based on mutual understanding and respect with our aboriginal neighbours.
In late 2004, we initiated a review of our aboriginal relations policy, with the intention of clarifying how we deal with aboriginal people and ensuring we remain consistent with industry best practices. This will be completed in 2005.
We also formed a cross-functional team to assess our areas of contact with aboriginal communities, our current aboriginal relations practices and develop recommendations for future interactions. And we renewed our aboriginal cultural awareness program for employees. Hull Child and Family Services, one of our community investment partners, offered this one-day training program on a pilot basis to select Calgary-based employees. We plan to offer this course to other employees across our organization in 2005.
Supporting traditional land use study
TransAlta participated in the Paul Band’s traditional land use study, along with government and industry partners. The Paul Band is interested in documenting traditional land use to preserve its cultural history and to assist in local economic and resource development. The band’s oral history, passed down by elders, is being documented through tape-recorded interviews. Global positioning systems and other information technology will also be used to capture data.
The multi-phased project is expected to take about two years, resulting in education and employment opportunities for band members. TransAlta has lent financial and in-kind support to the project, and is participating in community advisory meetings.
