Phase One: Background Research and Preparation

Because this research is predicated on linkages with community partners, the project began with the establishment of important structures to facilitate university-community collaboration. Such structures included: (1) local research teams in the six cities consisting of a local coordinator (LC), a focus group facilitator, an interviewer and a local reference group (LRG); (2) an 18-member Regional Advisory Committee; and (3) a Management Committee which included the Project Coordinator for the integrated project. A Regional Advisory Committee Workshop on January 13, 2004, brought together the Research Team, the Management Committee, the LCs and one other member from their respective LRGs as well as the CIC representative and the project coordinator into a Regional Workshop discussing the research process, organizational structure, methodologies, and the project's major concepts. Feedback and input were provided to the Research Team in preparation for the local training workshops, townhalls and focus groups. Subsequently, the LCs, interviewers and facilitators met with two members of the Halifax Research Team in each city (Local Training Workshops). The Halifax Research Team discussed the objective of the project, the objectives of the various research instruments, conceptual and theoretical background to the project, and provided training and instructions on the upcoming focus group, townhalls and qualitative interviewing.

This phase also involved the crucial analysis of the relevant sections of the ATA and the IRPA and the process that led to their development and adoption. It drew from several sources including media, parliamentary debates, government briefs, scholarly works and international conventions.