Unification - As I See It

UNIFICATION – AS I SEE IT
(Opinion)

Alberta One-Call was a communications service provider, operating under the direction of a Board made up of asset owners who funded the start-up operation. In 2002, Alberta One-Call’s mission statement expanded to mandate additional services. AOC became a One Call Centre, an advertising and marketing outlet for damage prevention messaging, an educator, a mediator, an advocate for damage prevention—involved in local, provincial, national and international damage prevention organizations, and active participant / leader in safety initiatives and ABCGA committees.

Alberta Common Ground Alliance was a member-driven organization that provided a forum and workspace for engaged stakeholders to come together to discuss issues and find solutions that moved damage prevention in the direction of continuous improvement. Committees did the necessary work to implement those solutions and initiatives the membership identified as important. The ABCGA hosted safety seminars, created and audited safety training standards, gave Alberta a voice in the national Best Practices, produced the Damage Prevention Process in Alberta, gathered vital statistics and data, made the first critical progress toward legislation, created a one-of-a-kind outreach program with the Indian Resource Council, and so much more.

The Joint Utility Safety Team (JUST) educated the public about safety around above-ground electrical utilities, collected damage information, created the successful “Where’s The Line” campaign, including print media, radio advertising and educational videos.

There was obvious overlap and alignment in the purpose and activity of these three separate organizations. All three promote safety around utilities and damage prevention through education, advocacy and awareness. All three examine the reasons that damages and accidents occur, then work toward eliminating recurrence of those events by addressing root causes by improving training and modifying industry practices.

Let’s talk about the "hidden" overlap that led to the unification of these separate entities. The funding for these organizations was coming almost exclusively from the asset owners. Yes, membership fees from other stakeholders did make up part of the ABCGA funds, but the organization’s survival depended on big money from asset owners.

The last few years have hit industry and our economy hard. Large utility and pipeline companies had to make hard decisions about how they spend their money, and funding for organizations like ABCGA and JUST was threatened. At the end of the day, it was apparent that preserving the good work done by those two organizations would require a new model. So, three organizations that provide similar services were unified so industry could still support and fund the important work through a single entity. The alternative was to end up like other organizations that have had to cease operation (like CEPA has done this year).

So, now that three have become one, it is important that we continue to work together so that our joint objectives do not get lost in the shuffle. It is no less critical now that the committees continue to work together and that all stakeholder voices are heard. For those in non-asset owner stakeholder groups who feel like you are being left behind, please reconsider your position. Asset owners are the bulk of the Board, yes, but you have representation there as well—use it. Asset owners continue to fund the bulk of the operation, yes, but your contribution of time and engagement gives you control as well. Your point of view is needed. Your time and commitment are what makes the organization work. Without it, we will have failed to save the best of what the ABCGA gave our industry. We will have failed to maintain the critical cooperation and shared responsibility that keeps us all safe. And isn’t THAT the point?

Sher Kirk – Operations Director, USP