A
s technology’s reach across the government sec-
tor has simplified processes and streamlined
workflows, better tools and platforms are be-
coming available to facilitate higher levels of
engagement from communities and the public. As the
former CAO of the City of Stratford, I well understand the
value of keeping up with public expectations and build-
ing trust with the community. Community engagement is
good business, and as of 2016, 90 per cent of our country’s
population has internet access. No traditional engage-
ment technique can offer this level of accessibility for this
proportion of the community.
Community engagement benefits include:
• E
nsuring that policy development is more aligned with
on-the-ground conditions;
• G
reater citizen satisfaction due to feelings of efficacy
and being heard;
• B
uilding trust which is important for the success of
policies, programs and regulations that depend on co-
operation and citizen compliance.
Online engagement complements traditional engage-
ment methods such as public meetings and open houses.
It can provide an accessible and safe space for the distribu-
tion of project information and (when appropriate) enable
the opportunity for feedback and debate leading to more
informed decision-making, right from people’s homes. It
provides the ability to engage earlier in the process and
delivers a broader reach whereas face-to-face communi-
cation satisfies a deeper understanding of a topic or issue.
Used together, both engagement strategies will be effec-
tive in capturing community sentiment on a topic and
planning an outcome.
A key benefit of online engagement for local govern-
ment is engaging hard-to-reach people, expanding input
beyond the “usual suspects” or “vocal minorities” who
tend to overpower the decision-making process. It deliv-
ers a cost-effective convenient engagement channel that
is available 24/7. The public is online and expects its ser-
vices and organizations to be there too. Using a municipal
website and integrating social media helps to promote the
online space and to connect with demographic groups
such as young people, families, shift workers and people
Civil / Municipal
Land Development
Environmental
Solid Waste Management
OTTAWA
KINGSTON
SUDBURY
TIMMINS
NORTH BAY
HAWKESBURY
GUELPH
Urban & Regional Planning
Geographic Information Systems
Mechanical
Electrical
Structural
Architecture
www.jlricha rds.ca
Municipal Monitor
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