Public Engagement Guidance

Government of Canada Wide Policies and Guidelines

• Policy on Communications and Federal Identity

• Directive on the Management of Communications and Federal Identity

• Aboriginal Consultation and Accommodation - Updated Guidelines for Federal Officials to Fulfill the Duty to Consult

• CIRNAC’s Web page for Canada and the Duty to Consult

Federal Department and Agency Guidance

• CBSA (2016) External Stakeholder Engagement Toolkit​

• CIHR (2013) CIHR's Framework for Citizen Engagement - Section Three: The CIHR Citizen Engagement Framework

• CSC (2013) Commissioner's Directive on Citizen Advisory Committees

• DOJ (2015) Policy Statement and Guidelines for Public Participation

• EC (2010) Environment Canada Policy on Public Participation and Aboriginal Consultation​

• HC/PHAC (2023) Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada Guidelines on Public Engagement

• FCAC Consultation Framework​

• HC (2022) Health Canada Policy on External Advisory Bodies

• HC (2000) The Health Canada Policy Toolkit for Public Involvement in Decision Making

• CIRNA (2024) Consultation and engagement at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada

• CIRNA (2011) Aboriginal Consultation and Accommodation

• NRCan (2014) Stakeholder Engagement Guide with Worksheets

• RCMP/GRC (2025) Public Participation Framework / Cadre de participation du public de la GRC

• RCMP/GRC (2025) Public Participation Guidebook / Guide de Participation du Public

• PCO Public Engagement Principles​ / Principes pour la participation du public​

• PCO Consultations Handbook​ / Élaboration d’expériences de participation du public​

• PCO ENGAGEMENT METHOD CARDS​ / CARTES DES MÉTHODES ​

Federal Communities

• GCcollab Public Engagement Community of Practice

• GCxchange Public Engagement Community of Practice

Provincial Government Engagement Platforms

• BC - govTogetherBC

• MB – EngageMB

• NB – Public consultations and engagements

• ON – Consultations Directory

Provincial and Municipal Government Guidance

• AB (2014) Public Input Toolkit

• AB (2015) Citizen Engagement Toolkit

• AB (2017) Public Participation Policy Regulation

• BC (2022) Citizen engagement

• BC (2022) Citizen Engagement Highlights Package

• BC (2025) Local government public engagement

• BC (2010) Guidelines for Conducting Citizen Engagement, Specific to Social Media

• NB (2009) – What is Public Engagement?

• NS (2024/25) – Public Engagement Guidebook

• NS (2021) - Nova Scotia Health Policy – Public Engagement

• ON (2016) Ontario Public Engagement Framework

• PEI – Federation of PEI Municipalities – Public Engagement Toolkit

• QC (2017) - Cadre de référence gouvernemental sur la participation publique

• SK (2022) – Saskatchewan Health Authority Engagement Framework

International Government Guidance - National Level

• Australia - Department of Industry, Science and Resources - APS framework for engagement and participation (2021)

• France - Ministère de la Transition écologique - La charte de la participation du public (2025)

• Germany - Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth - Fourth Civic Engagement Report

• Italy - Linee guida sulla consultazione pubblica in Italia

• New Zealand - Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet - Community engagement

• Spain - GUÍA DE PARTICIPACIÓN PÚBLICA EN PROYECTOS NORMATIVOS (2023)

• United States Environmental Protection Agency - Public Participation Guide

• US Department of Transportation - Public Involvement/Public Participation

• United Kingdom - Cabinet Office - Consultation Principles (2018)

• United Kingdom - Cabinet Office - Consultation and pre-decision matters (2022)

• United Kingdom - National Screening Committee - Stakeholder Engagement Strategy (2026)

International Engagement Platforms

• European Commission - Have your say - Public Consultations and Feedback

• France - debatpublic.fr

• Italy - Consultations - Italia Open Gov

• Spain - Participación Pública en Proyectos Normativos

International Government Guidance - Sub-National Level

• US - California - Public Participation Manual

• US - Colorado - Community engagement, outreach and public participation best practices

• US - Illinois - Illinois Environmental Protection Agency - Enhanced Public Participation Plan

• US - Minnesota - Public Engagement

• US - New Jersey - Meaningful Public Participation Guidance

• US - Texas - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - Public Participation Plan

• US - Washington - Office of Equity - Community Engagement Toolkit

International Organization Guidance

• Asian Development Bank (2012) - Strengthening Participation for Development Results: An Asian Development Bank Guide to Participation

• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2022) - Guidelines for Citizen Participation Processes

• Open Government Partnership (2022) - Participation and Co-Creation Standards

• Open Government Partnership (2018) - Participation and Co-Creation Toolkit

• People Powered - Participation Playbook

• United Nations Human Rights - Office of the High Commissioner - Guidelines for States on theeffective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs

• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe - Maastricht Recommendations on Public Participation in Decision-making (2015)

• World Bank - Strategic framework for mainstreaming citizen engagement in World Bank Group operations : engaging with citizens for improved results (2014)

• World Bank - Participation sourcebook (1996)