2019 Minister’s Transition Book 1: Communications overview

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Communications Sector

The Communications Sector delivers strategic, timely and coordinated communications services to support the priorities of the government, the minister and the department.

Strategic advice and communications products

The sector provides strategic advice, guidance and messaging to develop proactive communications strategies to tell meaningful, compelling stories that showcase the department's work and successes. The strategists within the sector collaborate with branches to communicate through events, announcements, social media, web content, marketing activities, media outreach and videos.

Issues management

The sector has robust mechanisms by which it identifies, tracks and addresses emerging issues that may pose a risk to the department's reputation. This includes media monitoring, assessment of Access to Information releases, review of quarterly proactive disclosure reports and assessment of other external facing products such as Order Paper Questions.

Media relations and media services

The media relations team coordinates and prepares responses to media questions, and organizes and provides on-site support for technical briefings and other media events, including spokesperson training. The team monitors traditional media and social media coverage, and provides media analyses, summaries, and morning and evening media clippings packages.

On average, the department manages between 1,100 and 1,500 interactions with the media each year, including formal and informal responses to the media, interviews and technical briefings. In 2018 to 2019, we issued over 100 news releases, statements and public notices.

Events and announcements

The ministerial liaison and events team plans, manages and executes comprehensive events logistics to support ministerial announcements, including post-event assessments. In addition, the speechwriting team provides speeches for events, announcements, keynotes, stakeholder meetings, internal events, Parliamentary Committee appearances, and debates in the House of Commons.

Social media

The department uses 4 social media platforms to engage with Canadians, other government organizations and stakeholders:

Platforms are also used to promote the department's programs and services and to celebrate its successes.

Current status

The Communications Sector is currently modernizing its service offering. The modernization will be rolled out in 2 phases, starting in fall 2019.

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