January 26, 2018
With the release of its What We Heard Report on public engagements that will inform the development of a the NWT's first homegrown Mineral Resources Act, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) has concluded its most extensive public engagement effort since Devolution.
The Mineral Resources Act will be landmark legislation — a significant step in the NWT’s maturation as a jurisdiction with local control of land and natural resources. ITI’s objectives in designing this engagement process were to:
- Solicit in-depth engagement;
- Provide an extended period for participation;
- Incorporate a multi-platform approach that would offer participants a number of different ways to engage depending on their location and preferences;
- Introduce a fresh, interactive online engagement presence;
- Utilize independent, world-renowned expertise to distill the themes of the engagement;
- Collect comprehensive data; and
- Underpin it all with extensive outreach, communication, and promotion effort.
The approach worked, and the numbers speak for themselves.
Participation
We saw hundreds of submissions from many groups of stakeholders using many methods — many in-depth and detailed.
A Fresh Web Presence
We launched a new, interactive website where participants could take part in discussion forums, leave general comments, and do a survey — all while accessing a cache of background documents and keeping up with the latest news on the engagement.
A number of lengthy submissions were made using the general comment function.
Website Visitors: 2737
Documents Downloaded: 1320
Submissions: 32
Reaching Out
There was a particular emphasis on making sure we got as many people out to engage as possible. That meant reaching out through all available methods including email, newsletters, social media, phone calls, mail, and a comprehensive advertising campaign.
We tracked every outgoing outreach effort as part of the engagement.
Did you know...
We invested nearly $20,000 in advertising using social media, radio, newspaper, posters, and PSAs?
Pulling it All Together
Submissions were collected and categorized using a sophisticated database created by GNWT staff with an eye to comprehensive data collection.
This was supported with technology and record-keeping expertise on-the-ground at every session and every meeting, and dedicated teams ensuring all written, electronic, and auditory records were kept.
The submissions we received were analyzed and distilled into key themes by an independent engagement expert from the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
The results of this exercise was our What We Heard Report — a document targeted for the public who want an idea of what was said throughout this lengthy engagement.
For more information
Mike Westwick
Communications Officer
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Mike_Westwick@gov.nt.ca
1-867-767-9202 ext. 63038
