Moncton, NB, launches an online Town Hall that will allow residents to participate in discussions on municipal issues forum.
Moncton City Councillors implement a model Hotel City online which will examine the citizens through a forum on the future challenges. (CBC)Municipal mayors often attract crowds of hundreds of contentious public debate. However, Moncton want an electronic forum has implemented that rely on the thoughts and opinions of thousands of residents.
The city has hired Corporate Research Associates to establish a panel of people who will be sent questionnaires on important topics.
"In theory, we could therefore 65,000 panelists, is the ideal that we would like to do," said Paul Thomson, Director of the city of communications.
' The city of Moncton will be the first jurisdiction to Canada this.... This is a tool of democracy. It helps more people an easy way to interact with their municipality '-Don Mills, President of the Agency
Thomson said knowing what residents think specific questions make it easier for the Council to take decisions.
"Just think, we could be requested on the issue of maintaining order, with certainty. One might ask, "that do you think of our network of trails." This must focus on the next?' "he said.
Thomson said he would like to see each of the Southeastern New Brunswick 65,000 residents of the city sign up for online panel, but it is expected that nearly 5,000 people participate.
According to its Web site, citizens online Group Advisory city will send questionnaires, probably every month, and the citizens will not be paid to participate, random prize is offered to keep people replying.
Don Mills, President of Corporate Research Associates, said that Moncton is a pioneer in this form of civic engagement.
Don Mills, President of Corporate Research Associates, said he believes that Moncton is the first Canadian city in the form of electronic civil participation. (CRA)"So we know the will of the city of Moncton is the competence first Canada to do this," said Mills.
"It is a tool of democracy". It allows more people an easy way to interact with their municipality. This is a very progressive thing to do. »
Mills said that this online panel model is more efficient than traditional City used by politicians to solicit thoughts to the public on specific topics.
Moncton recently organized a series of public meetings to discuss the future of the RCMP in the city.
"We are confident of 5,000 people living in the city to participate in a panel... online recruitment is a large group of people to represent the point of view of citizens, much larger you could do a public presentation, where you know you invite people to a town hall and you get a hundred people to", says Mills.
Mills said of companies that use this method usually receive a rate of response of 80 per cent of those who have agreed to participate, and responses are usually ready within three days.
He said that the city can use the Panel to get views on topics such as modification of zoning, police services, or other forms of development.
Website of the city, says citizens data will be treated so no step to identify people. And the privacy policy indicates the city and the CRA will not share personal information with any other party.
The Panel is open to any person age 16 or older who lives in Moncton or possesses property in the city.
People between 13 and 15 are allowed to participate if they have parental consent. More than one person in each household is allowed to join in, but a single address can be used.
The city and the Halifax based voting firm hope that a large number of people is subscribe to the electronic Panel.
Said Mills to allow specific groups to be targeted to answer questions on a particular issue.
' It is a great leap of faith for them. They are open democracy in a way that they cannot control. Finally one of the Atlantic will be.'-Don Mills, President of the Agency
For example, if there is a development in a corner of the city, the researchers could send questionnaires to the persons indicated in the registration process they lived in the affected area.
The city could also decide that wish to seek advice to persons having certain common characteristics such as age or if they have children of school age.
Mills said he has addressed to each of the Atlantic Governments on the use of this tool to seek opinions at the provincial level.
"You need to build more large panels look more in depth regions." "We discussed the Atlantic provinces in the last year and a half," says Mills.
"This is a great leap of faith for them." They are open democracy in a way that they cannot control. Finally one of the Atlantic to do this, I just don't know that that will be the first.
Advantage to participate with a firm research, said Mills, the process is independent and issues are formulated by professionals to avoid leading questions.
The Premier of New Brunswick David Alward had promised to be more open in how his Government consults with the public. He himself appointed Minister responsible for the participation of the citizens.
In November he appointed Tory MLA Wes McLean legislative Secretary for civic engagement.
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