Public participation and social acceptability

Like environmental assessment and land protection, public participation and social acceptability are at the heart of the JBACE’s concerns. In addition to ensuring that the provisions of Section 22 regarding public participation are respected, the JBACE is interested in the development of tools to assist this participation.

Consultation and public participation policies

Several programs, policies and tools are developed by governments. The JBACE participated in the analysis and review of several initiatives in the recent years, including:

  • May 2016: Aboriginal Communities Consultation Policy Specific to the Mining Sector (MERN)
  • March 2017: guides on public consultations and monitoring committees for proponents (MERN)
  • May 2017: draft Forest Management Consultation Policy (MFFP)
  • June 2017: guidelines in the area of social acceptability (MERN)
  • February 2018: Mining Sector Indigenous Consultation Policy and the Supplementary Document (MERN)
  • June 2018: Establishment and operation of a monitoring committee: Good practices guide for project promoters and local actors, and legal obligations of monitoring committees – preliminary version (MERN)
  • June 2019: Indigenous Knowledge Policy Framework in the context of proposed project reviews and regulatory decisions (IAAC)

Guide on public participation for project proponents

In 2015, the JBACE presented recommendations to improve public participation during the environmental and social impact assessment and review procedure provided for in Section 22 of the JBNQA. One of these recommendations was to produce a public participation best-practice guidance document for project proponents.

  • June 2016: establishment of a working group and beginning of the preparation of the guidance document
  • Fall 2018: finalization and submission of final draft to JBACE members for approval
  • May 2019: presentation at the AQEI conference
  • August 2019: publication of the guide entitled Best-practice guidance for project proponents: Project-related public participation and engagement in the James Bay Territory (available here)
  • November 2019: at the 2019 Québec Mines+Énergie conference, presentation of a training workshop entitled Building relationships with the community: how to make it effective and appreciated by citizens? jointly with the MERN