Dealing with a difficult issue or a divided community? We can help. Since 2007, MASS has led some of Canada's most original and ambitious efforts to engage citizens in tackling tough policy options while pioneering the use of Civic Lotteries and Citizen Reference Panels on behalf of a wide array of clients.
Our work goes far beyond what's possible in a traditional town hall, focus group or survey. We get to the heart of the matter and provide detailed recommendations to our clients that reflect the shared interests of stakeholders and communities.
We do it by working with a representative group of randomly selected citizens over a period of several weekends, and by placing as much emphasis on public learning as we do on public engagement. We think people are fundamentally curious and that opinion that is informed by a wide range of professional expertise is simply better than the aggregate of spur of the moment thinking. Likewise, we believe that conclusions and policy recommendations that involve trade-offs and real-world scenarios reached through dialogue with others on behalf of a community offers a sounder basis for good policy-making.
"It was really something when I got the letter in the mail, and even more thrilling to get the call inviting me to join the Panel. I was glad to participate and have the chance to give back to my community." - Halton Region Citizens' Reference Panellist
Learn more about our Civic Lotteries and Citizens' Reference Panels
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