Transcript Southern Alberta Opium Production Feasibility Study

Suits Associates International
A study to determine the feasibility of opium
production in Southern Alberta, for
pharmaceutical use.
Agenda
Literature Review
Research Question
Hypothesis
Research Objectives
Research Methods
 Strategy and Philosophy
 Setting and Sample
 Data Collection
 Research Ethics
 Issues
 Incentives
 Time Scale and Resources
 What Lies Ahead…?
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Background: Literature Sources
 Deductive Approach to Research
 Secondary Literature Sources:
 Magazines and News Reports
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Business Week
Alberta Venture
CBC
Market for Medicinal Poppies
 $7.4 of poppy-related
pharmaceutical products
imported last year
 Canada imports $100
Million in opium annually
 For use in pharmaceutical
drugs,

ex. morphine and codeine
 Canada is the largest per
capita consumer of codeine
in the world
Dollars and Sense
 Poppies will pay more than
any other crop
 Up to $6000/hectare
 Compared to $2000/hectare for
Wheat
 API Labs Inc.
 $40 million pharmaceutical
plant near Lethbridge
 150 new jobs
 $300 million injected annually
into the local economy
Political Issues: International
 International Law:
 Twenty countries allowed to grow opium poppies
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Canada:

All parts of the poppy are illegal, except for the
seeds
 Only G8 country that can claim this
Political Issues: Infrastructure
 Bob Tarlick:
 “We don’t want bikers running this”
 Afghanistan:
 92% of world opium supply
 Warlords, corruption and illegal drugs
 Canada:
 Has the infrastructure
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Steven Harper’s $64 million stance
Biggest hurdle: Health Canada
Political Issues…?
 Largely disappear if there
are no illegal uses for
these poppies
 Peter Facchini
 Scientist and acclaimed
U of C professor
 Working on genetically
modified poppies
 No illegal implications
 Still useful for
medicinal purposes
 Research Question:
 Will public opinion and legalities permanently hinder
bringing poppies to Southern Alberta?
 Hypothesis:
 Huge financial gains, a strong infrastructure and
genetically modified plants will make poppy-growing
a reality.
Research Objectives
1.
2.
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Determine support or opposition at various
political levels
Determine public opinion
Determine the progress of scientific advances
relating to this topic
Research Strategy
 Compile Primary Data for
Canada
 Mixed-Method Approach
 Quantitative
Telephone Survey
 Qualitative
 Personal Interviews
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Research Philosophy
 Functional Positivism
 Independent third-party research firm
 Problem-orientated approach
 Seeking rational solutions through
operational recommendations
 5P’s Principle
 Proper Planning Prevents
Poor Performance!
Methodology
 Quantitative:
Telephone Survey
 Random and
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Representative
Knowledge Gaps
Objective
CATI Software
Variable Testing
Methodology
 Data Collection
 Test, Re-Test, Re-view
 Survey execution
 Demographics
 Researcher Experience
 Cross-sectional
 Sample Size
 95% Confidence Level, 4.0% Sampling Error
 Contact 1,250 phone numbers
Regional Considerations
 How far-reaching are the
impacts?
 Greatest impact closest to
production region
 Influential power of this
region
Methodology
 Qualitative: Personal
Interviews
 Stakeholder Analysis - SWOT
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Avoid duplication
 Exploratory Research
 Officials & Influential Persons
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Provincial Legislators,
Local Government,
University Professors,
Law Enforcement Agencies,
Other Stakeholder Groups
Data Collection
 Effectiveness depends on QUALITY of
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questions asked!
Utilize public opinion survey data to
formulate more questions
Full disclosure
Convenience of interviewee
Digital recording
Transcribing service
Sample
 Provincial Legislators
 Ed Stelmach
 Dave Hancock
 Rick Casson
 Local Legislators
 Bob Tarlek
 Alderpersons
 Municipal Authorities
Sample
 University Professors
 Dr. Peter Fachinni
 Dr. Danny Le Roy
 Law Enforcement
 RCMP
 D.A.R.E.
 Other Stakeholders
 Glen Metzler
 Carol Harrington
Ethical Issues
 Leading questions,
 Attempts made to
persuade
participants,
 Misreporting of
information,
 Not disclosing your
identity,
 Manipulation during
interviews
Ethical Practices
 Research-Board
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Approval
Will never be deceived
Confidentiality is
assured
Data used properly
Interviews and survey
questions are not
stressful
Ethical Practices
 Personal Interviews
 The interviewees
 In the public eye
 Consent form
 Participant Rights
Financial Inducements
 5 Calgary Flames
ticket packages
 2 tickets,
 Accommodation,
 $100 certificate
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Activity
Week number
1 Holiday
2 Read additional literature
3 Stakeholder analisis
4 Finalise objectives
5 Draft literature review
6 Confirm research methods
7 Draft research methods
8 Review telephone survey
9 Run piolet test for survey
10 Revise survey if needed
11 Administer telephone survey
12 Enter data into computer
13 Analise the data
14 Contact interview participants
15 Review intervew questions
16 Pilot test and revise questions
17 Conduct intervies
18 Enter data into computer
19 Analise data
20 Draft findings chapter
21 Read new opium developments
22 Complete remaining chapters
23 Make last minute changes
24 Print and bind report
25 Submit feasibility report
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Time Scale and Resources
 Total ranging from $65,000 to $100,000
 Preparation, Testing, Analysis
 Telephone Interviews
 Personal Interviews
 Possibilities for joint investment:
 Corporate farms,
 Investors,
 and Pharmaceuticals
Discussion