Why a Communication Policy ?

 

  • It is helpful to ensure trust between the Commission and the entities with whom it collaborates on land and resource use matters.

  • And it helps to ensure that parties are provided with adequate information and opportunities to understand and engage meaningfully in decision-making processes.

PDF Version of the Policy

Main Goals of the Policy

  • Goal 1

    To ensure that the Cree people are informed and engaged;

  • Goal 2

    To facilitate communication and collaboration between the various entities with planning mandates in Eeyou Istchee, and as needed, between these entities and the Cree people;

  • Goal 3

    To propose approaches to establish effective communication and transmission of information with the Crees, stakeholders, and collaborators. 

A Effective Communication :

IS INFORMATIVE

Communicates content in a simple and to the point manner

FOSTERS PARTICIPATION

Favors a culture of participation and collaboration

FACILITATES KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Provides explanation and a context for exchange

FOSTERS ADHESION

Encourages parties’ sense of ownership and pride over initiatives

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.

Communication Responsabilities

  • Develop communication strategies

    adjusted to diverse publics, accounting for their diverse roles and particularities.

  • Maintain an active online presence

    by ensuring frequent update and the publication of content available to all.

  • Manage the brand and identity of the EPC

    by ensuring that publications and web platform presence are consistent with one another.

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 METHODNATURE OF INFORMATIONACTIONS
MEETINGTo discuss specific planning issues with an entity, a collaborator, a stakeholder or a planning partnerFollow-up email will be sent after the meeting as needed
EMAIL / PHONE CALLWorking communication with parties and other interested organizations, casual enquiries.Email and phone calls will be used at the working level – semi-formal communication.
COMMUNITY MEETINGSTo discuss planning issues with community membersCommunity meetings will be held as required
PUBLIC CONSULTATIONUpon completion of the Draft Plan, the Commission shall make the plan public and hold public consultationsTo solicit comments from all interested persons, including the Cree Communities, Cree entities, relevant Québec agencies and the general public
NEWSLETTERTo 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 SITETo share information about EPC, general updates on the planning process, and to share produced documents, resources and maps.The website will be updated regularly.
POSTERSGeneral information about the EPC and the planning processPosters will be displayed in public areas, and during meetings and information sessions
SOCIAL MEDIATo share easy and fun to read information about land use planning and the work of the EPCSocial media platforms (with emphasis on facebook) will be updated regularly.
RADIO INTERVIEWS AND ADVERTISEMENTSGeneral information about the planning processDevelop 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.

COLLABORATE

Collaborate with the other land use planning bodies in Eeyou Istchee to build a harmonized land use planning process, and to share information and knowledge.

INFORM

Provide information to raise the level of understanding obout the land use planning process, on key activities, and on next steps.

CONSULT / INVOLVE

One line explaining the heading of the info box. Keep it short, simple and easy to understand.

APPROVAL

To place the land use plan in the hands of the approval bodies.

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.