The choice of public involvement method must be done based on the issue, the objectives, the time and resources available, the type of participants, and the general context. [...] Most recent efforts tend to synthesize and clarify the concept of public involvement by identifying three main levels of involvement based on the flow of information and interactions between the public and their government: i) public communication; ii) public consultation; and iii) public participation. [...] Rowe and Frewer (2005) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2001) identified three main levels of involvement based on the flow of information and the intensity of interactions between the public and their government: i) public communication; ii) public consultation; and iii) public participation (Figure 2). [...] The citizens’ dialogues conducted during the Commission on the Future of the Health Care System in Canada (Romanow Commission) confirm the results of these polls and clearly illustrate the desire of citizens to participate more actively in the governance of the health system (Maxwell et al., 2003). [...] Based on the content of this primer, we can identify the following six key messages to help inform the deliberations of the Health Council of Canada about the role and parameters of public involvement: • There are different levels of public involvement: There are three levels of involvement depending on the flow of information and intensity of interactions between the public and their government: