A Effective Communication :
Guiding Principles
These communication principles help better integrate the characteristics of an effective communication approach for the EPC context.
OPENNESS AND LEARNING
Help all involved listen to each other, explore new ideas unconstrained by predetermined outcomes, learn and apply information in ways that generate new options, and rigorously evaluate public engagement activities for effectiveness.
TRANSPARANCY AND TRUST
Be clear and open about the process, and provide a public record of the organizers, sponsors, outcomes, and the range of views and ideas expressed.
COLLABORATION
Support and encourage participants, governments, community institutions, and others to work together to advance the common good.
SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT
Promote a culture of participation and ensure real potential to make a difference, and make participants aware of that potential.
INCLUSION
Equitably incorporate diverse peoples, voices, ideas, and information to lay the groundwork for quality outcomes.
Our Target Publics
CREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
With respect to conveying information on land use planning to Cree communities, we will work with the preferences expressed by the Crees over the years. Social media, radio, other community media, and careful Cree translation are all topics that Cree community members have expressed as being important for effective communication.
When needed, community members will also be consulted through community meetings, focus groups and interviews to obtain their input on specific questions or issues. In addition, at specific times during the planning process, public consultations may be useful for soliciting comments from all interested persons, including the Crees and general public.
CREE ENTITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS
Meetings will be scheduled with key collaborators and stakeholders to introduce the land use planning work and processes, and to explore effective means of working together. When specific issues arise that intersect with the mandates of different entities and stakeholders, we will meet with them to integrate their knowledge into the resolution of these specific issues.
LAND USE PLANNING PARTNERS IN EEYOU ISTCHEE
It is important to support the sharing of knowledge and resources, and foster communication and collaboration with the different governmental bodies and commissions that have direct responsibilities for developing land use plans in Eeyou Istchee. Regular contact will be maintained with our Land Use Planning Partners to stay informed on their work and to share new developments and information. This collaboration will help to harmonize the different planning process.
Our Communication Strategies
COMMUNICATION METHOD | NATURE OF INFORMATION | ACTIONS |
---|---|---|
MEETING | To discuss specific planning issues with an entity, a collaborator, a stakeholder or a planning partner | Follow-up email will be sent after the meeting as needed |
EMAIL / PHONE CALL | Working communication with parties and other interested organizations, casual enquiries. | Email and phone calls will be used at the working level – semi-formal communication. |
COMMUNITY MEETINGS | To discuss planning issues with community members | Community meetings will be held as required |
PUBLIC CONSULTATION | Upon completion of the Draft Plan, the Commission shall make the plan public and hold public consultations | To solicit comments from all interested persons, including the Cree Communities, Cree entities, relevant Québec agencies and the general public |
NEWSLETTER | To share information about EPC, and to provide a general update on the planning process. | A newsletter will be published periodically to provide updates on important milestones in the planning process. The newsletter will be distributed via an electronic email list. Printed copies will also be distributed in the communities. |
WEB SITE | To share information about EPC, general updates on the planning process, and to share produced documents, resources and maps. | The website will be updated regularly. |
POSTERS | General information about the EPC and the planning process | Posters will be displayed in public areas, and during meetings and information sessions |
SOCIAL MEDIA | To share easy and fun to read information about land use planning and the work of the EPC | Social media platforms (with emphasis on facebook) will be updated regularly. |
RADIO INTERVIEWS AND ADVERTISEMENTS | General information about the planning process | Develop interview materials and advertisements in Cree language for radio broadcast. |
Engagement Level
Different levels of engagement will be used with different stakeholders, entities and collaborators. Some planning activities will require greater input from some parties than others, and some steps of the planning process will require a greater degree of public engagement than others. For this reason, engagement strategies need to suit the specific situations and objectives in question.
The different communication engagement levels are describe below.
A POLICY THAT WILL EVOLVE OVER TIME
The communication management tools presented in this policy are primarily aimed at facilitating the elaboration of the RLRUP.
Upon the finalization and official adoption of the RLRUP, this policy may be revised to adapt the communication tools to better fit the needs of the implementation and monitoring phases of the RLRUP.