I think the word is “participation”. If we could change the government's position from “comments” to “participation”, I think we would cover off pretty well where I'm coming from concerning it. That would be a sort of in-between word, between “consultation” and “comments”, because it implies that there's a to and fro between those who are planning and those who want input into the plan. If you have “participation”, then you have some structure, rather than simply calling for comments and not having an opportunity for a debate over those comments or over those things.
So “participation” is a better word. I think it implies a better position.