DPRA Canada understands that clients need solutions that are grounded in a fair and effective process that includes meaningful consultation and engagement. DPRA Canada has a long history of designing and facilitating processes involving industry, Indigenous people, government, and the public, to reach effective and useful solutions. We have conducted hundreds of consultation programs for all levels of government, Canadian companies, and Indigenous and non-governmental organizations. We lead consultation and engagement activities for socio- economic impact assessments (SEIAs) and environmental assessments (EAs) of resource development projects. We have worked in a number of sectors including mining, energy (oil and gas, electricity (nuclear, hydroelectric, wind/solar)), and on environmental management initiatives such as , land use planning, parks and protected areas, fisheries and wildlife management, waste management and site remediation.
Engagement and consultation are a key component of most of our projects; DPRA Canada also leads internal and external engagement programs related to our other service areas: program evaluation, applied health and social research, environment and resource management, socio-economic research and assessment, organizational effectiveness, policy /legislative development and review.
For proposed initiatives that have the potential for disagreement and controversy, early and effective consultation with Indigenous people, the public and stakeholders can promote understanding, facilitate issue resolution and positively influence outcomes.
How Can DPRA Canada Help?
- Strategic advice on the approach to consultation and engagement with Indigenous people and other parties
- Designing, organizing, facilitating and documenting multi-party meetings, workshops and conferences on a diverse range of topics
- Developing and implementing comprehensive public and Indigenous consultation programs
- Designing/implementing qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including surveys (web-based, telephone and face-to-face interviews, intercept interviews, questionnaires), focus groups, and workshops at national, regional and local scales
- Use of specific techniques to reach special populations, such as seniors, Indigenous people, street youth, recent immigrants and those with visual impairments
- Leading the engagement and socio-economic components of EAs
- Developing communication strategies and materials
- Reaching consensus and improving stakeholder relations