par guideline 2015

PAR Program Applicant Guide Page | 1

Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) Program Applicant Guide

March 2015


Table of Contents

1. What is PAR? ................................................................................................................................................... 4

2. How is this Guide Organized? .......................................................................................................................... 5

Purpose ................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Who should use this guide? ................................................................................................................................. 5

How to Navigate this Guide ................................................................................................................................. 5

Section 1: What is PAR? .................................................................................................................................. 5

Section 2: How is this Guide Organized? ......................................................................................................... 5

Section 3: How can my company participate in PAR? ..................................................................................... 6

Section 4: Getting Started ................................................................................................................................ 6

Sections 5 – 7: Steps to Follow, by PAR Level ................................................................................................ 6

Appendices ....................................................................................................................................................... 6

3. How Can My Company Participate in PAR? .................................................................................................... 7

PAR Participant .................................................................................................................................................... 7

PAR Committed ................................................................................................................................................... 7

PAR Certified ....................................................................................................................................................... 7

4. Getting Started ................................................................................................................................................. 8

Step 1: Make Decision to Apply ........................................................................................................................... 8

Step 2: Decide which PAR Level Your Company will Apply For ......................................................................... 8

Step 3: Contact CCAB and Declare Your Company’s Intent to Apply ................................................................. 8

Step 4: Convene a Working Group ...................................................................................................................... 8

Next Steps…. ....................................................................................................................................................... 9

5. PAR Participant .............................................................................................................................................. 10

An overview of PAR Participant ......................................................................................................................... 10

Understanding the Fee Structure ....................................................................................................................... 10

The Steps ........................................................................................................................................................... 10

6. PAR Committed .............................................................................................................................................. 11

An overview of PAR Committed ......................................................................................................................... 11



The Steps ........................................................................................................................................................... 12

Notes of Interest ................................................................................................................................................. 12

7. PAR Certified .................................................................................................................................................. 13

An overview of PAR Certified ............................................................................................................................. 13


The Steps ........................................................................................................................................................... 14

A note about Re-certification .............................................................................................................................. 15

Appendix A: PAR Program Agreement ................................................................................................................. 17

Disclaimer ....................................................................................................................................................... 18

Appendix B: PAR Certification Verification Process - The “To Do” List ................................................................ 20

Appendix C: Community Interview Results ........................................................................................................... 22


1. What is PAR?

Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) is an online management and reporting program that supports

progressive improvement in Aboriginal relations. The PAR program provides a framework that helps

companies track and measure performance around Aboriginal Relations, creating improved

outcomes. It is also a certification program that confirms corporate performance in Aboriginal relations

at the bronze, silver or gold level. Certified companies promote their certification with a PAR logo that

signals to communities that they are good business partners; great places to work; and are committed

to prosperity in Aboriginal communities.

The PAR logo, used by PAR-certified

companies, provides a high level of

assurance to communities because the

designation is supported by an

independent, third party verification of a

company’s self-assessment (known as

the PAR Online Report). This

assessment reports on outcomes and

initiatives in four performance areas - employment,

business development, community investment and

community engagement. It also incorporates a juried review by Aboriginal business people.

Since the program’s introduction in 2001, many of Canada’s leading corporate citizens have achieved

PAR certification at the bronze, silver or gold level. PAR was and remains the only corporate

responsibility assurance program with an emphasis on Aboriginal relations. In 2011 the Canadian

Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) introduced major program changes to make PAR participation

more accessible and to incorporate major developments in corporate social responsibility. The

program was also enhanced to reflect best practice in the Global Reporting Initiative framework and

build on PAR’s expertise and knowledge.

What is CCAB?

Since 1984, this national non-profit organization has adapted to the changing needs of stakeholders in Aboriginal Business. The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) is non-partisan and receives no core government funding — it is supported through corporate funding, program and event sponsorships, and membership dues. Here’s what CCAB does: • Helps facilitate sustainable relations between the Canadian business sector and First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people; • Conducts relevant research that captures trends, best practices, and areas of opportunity for Aboriginal people and business;

and • Works with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal businesses to encourage economic sustainability, training and skill

development, and recognition of Aboriginal business success

https://par.ccab.com/users/sign_in

http://www.ccab.com/

http://www.ccab.com/

http://www.globalreporting.org/

http://www.ccab.com/member_directory


2. How is this Guide Organized?

Purpose The purpose of this guide is to help companies, such as yours, determine how best to participate in the PAR

program. It is intended to be a very practical, step-by-step set of instructions to walk you through the entire

process – from early application decisions through to final verification activities.

Who should use this guide? Individuals who are leading the PAR submission process and filling out the online submission should use this

guide. We recommend that each company pull together a PAR Submission Team, often made up of individuals

in positions relating to Aboriginal relations, community engagement, corporate social responsibility and

communications. Members of this PAR Submission Team will also find this guide useful.

How to Navigate this Guide The guide is organized in a sequential format, describing the steps you will need to follow:

Section 1: What is PAR?

The first section of the guide provides some background on PAR and on the CCAB. You should find it a helpful

overview of the program with hyperlinks to key websites to find further information.

Section 2: How is this Guide Organized?

The next section of this guide describes the overall purpose of the guide and how to work your way through the

steps presented. This section also describes who will likely find this guide most helpful.

Figure 1 - How to Navigate this Guide


Section 3: How can my company participate in PAR?

The third section of the guide provides a high level overview of the three levels of PAR: Participant; Committed;

and Certified.

Section 4: Getting Started

The fourth section of the guide provides your starting point. Regardless of which PAR level you are applying for,

the steps described in Section 4 will be your best place to start.

Sections 5 – 7: Steps to Follow, by PAR Level

The last sections in the guide provide step-by-step guidance on applying for and completing the PAR process.

Select the section that aligns with the level of PAR your company is pursuing and follow the instructions.

Appendices

You will find a variety of tools, forms and additional guidance in the appendices.


3. How Can My Company Participate in PAR?

All CCAB members can participate in PAR in three key ways, depending on their interests, priorities and

resources. You can refer to Table 1 below and the descriptions of each level provided in this section to help

determine the best approach for you and your company. Once you are familiar with these levels, move onto

Section 4 in this guide to learn how easy it is to get started.

Table 1: Overview of PAR Levels

PAR Participant PAR Committed PAR Certified

Access to the Online PAR Framework Yes Yes Yes

Complete Online Submission Voluntary Yes Yes

Media Scan No No Yes

Community Interviews No No Yes

Site Visit No No Yes

Verification No Limited Yes

Jury Review No No Yes

PAR Performance Feedback No Limited Yes

Timing Unlimited Must move to “PAR

Certified” after 3 years

Renew every 3 years

Use of PAR Logo No Yes: "PAR

Committed" Logo Yes: Gold, Silver or

Bronze

PAR Participant All CCAB members can access the PAR reporting tool to track their performance and identify opportunities for

improvement in four performance areas – employment, business development, community investment, and

community engagement. As a PAR participant, your company has access to the online program but there is no

review by either PAR Program staff or by a PAR Verifier of your PAR Online Report. This level is intended to

encourage companies to become familiar with the framework before they are ready to engage at the Committed

or Certified level. The online submission form is strictly confidential and the PAR Program will not share your

information without your permission.

PAR Committed Participants at this level submit the PAR Online Report to a specially trained PAR Verifier to receive high level

feedback on their readiness for verification. Participation at this level is limited to three years to encourage

progressive improvement against the framework and taking action on the results of the PAR Verifier review. At

this level, companies report annually, for a maximum of three years.

PAR Certified This level of participation offers companies the opportunity to provide the highest level of assurance to all of its

stakeholders that it is invested in Aboriginal relations. At this level, qualified PAR Verifiers review the company

PAR Online Report and confirm submissions through company visits and interviews with Aboriginal

stakeholders. These inputs combine to create a summary report from the Verifier that is used by a PAR jury to

award the company PAR standing at the bronze, silver or gold level. At this level, companies must submit three

years of information and must re-certify every three years.


4. Getting Started

Whenever a company is considering becoming involved with PAR, they will need to go through four preliminary

steps, as illustrated in Figure 2: These steps will set the platform for you and your company to continue through

the process.

Step 1: Make Decision to Apply The first step your company needs to take is actually deciding to apply for PAR. Questions you might consider

when working through this decision could include:

• What are the benefits to proceeding with PAR?

• What are the risks to not proceeding with PAR?

• How can PAR help our company better manage our Aboriginal relations?

As you are making this decision, there are additional internal process considerations that will help to move

forward. For instance, you may want to consider questions such as:

• Who do you need to consult on the decision?

• Who should you engage to build support for participation?

• Who is the ultimate decision maker? An individual? A committee?

Step 2: Decide which PAR Level Your Company will Apply For Once your company has decided to apply for PAR, you will need to select the desired PAR level. Refer back to

Section 3 in this guide for a full description of the three options.

Step 3: Contact CCAB and Declare Your Company’s Intent to Apply Once your company has decided to apply for PAR and has chosen the desired level, it is time to contact the

CCAB and declare this intention. A simple email or phone call is all that is needed at this point. Doing so, you

will receive log-in information so that you can begin the process of completing the online reporting template.

CCAB Contact Information

PAR Program Coordinator: 416-961-8663 or email [email protected]

Step 4: Convene a Working Group Although not essential for the PAR Participant, we recommend that you convene an internal Working Group for

any company applying for the PAR Committed or Certified levels. This Working Group should provide a good

sounding board to support you through the application process. Members of the Working Group should be able

to advise you of the relevant information you may need to complete the application and should be supportive

during the verification process. Working Groups should include those individuals who are most closely involved

in Aboriginal Affairs as they relate to the four PAR Program Areas (Aboriginal Employment, Business

mailto:[email protected]


Development, Community Investment and Community Engagement). Working group members may include

individuals from the following disciplines:

Aboriginal Affairs

Community Relations and Investment

CSR Team Members

Stakeholder Engagement

Business Development

Human Resources and Recruitment

Legal

Communications

Next Steps…. Now that your preliminary steps have been taken, you are ready to dive in. Depending on which PAR level you

have selected, proceed to the next section that applies to you:


5. PAR Participant

An overview of PAR Participant Participation at the PAR Participant level of the PAR program offers companies an opportunity to use PAR

online reporting templates to compile and self-assess their company’s Aboriginal relations efforts. There is no

PAR Program verification and/or feedback involved at this level of participation. There is no external

communication or logo for this level of participation.

Benefits of PAR Participant

Access to the PAR framework to help conduct an internal assessment of your Aboriginal Strategy and performance

Ability to test drive the program before public

implementation

Increases internal confidence in the management of Aboriginal Relations (AR)

Identifies the current performance benchmark

Understanding the Fee Structure Companies becoming a PAR Participant are not required to pay any fees for use of the online tool, as access is

included in CCAB membership fees.

The Steps Use the following checklist to work through the steps of participating at the PAR Participant level:

Completed? (Y/N)

Notes

1. Complete PAR Online Report

2. Conduct a self-directed review and assessment of strengths and gaps



6. PAR Committed

An overview of PAR Committed Participation at the PAR Committed level offers companies an opportunity to receive high level feedback and

direction on their Aboriginal relations efforts and readiness for certification.

CCAB administers the PAR Program and works with trained PAR Verifiers who review companies’ online-

generated PAR reports (known as a PAR Online Report) to ensure that they adhere to the PAR reporting

guidelines. This review will allow companies to gain an understanding of their strengths and opportunities for

improvement. Each report submitted is reviewed against a standardized form which is the foundation of the

Verifier’s report back to companies.

At the Committed level of participation, the PAR online submission is the only item reviewed by the Verifier;

therefore, accurate reporting is essential for companies to receive the highest quality feedback. The assignment

of PAR Committed status is not a confirmation or certification of a company’s performance as the accuracy of

the company’s PAR Online Report is not verified through on-site visits or stakeholder interviews. PAR

Committed status demonstrates a commitment to progress and to eventual certification; therefore, only in

unforeseen circumstances would CCAB not recognize an application for the PAR Committed recognition. The

PAR Jury is not involved in the assignment of the Committed level of participation.

Benefits of PAR Committed

All of the benefits from PAR Participant plus: High-level PAR Verifier feedback on current

performance and areas for improvement Supports improved reporting through the

measurement of progress in each of the four focus areas

A public demonstration of your commitment to progressive Aboriginal Relations and use of the PAR Committee Logo for a maximum of three years

Understanding the Fee Structure Companies applying for PAR Committed are asked to pay the PAR Application fee directly to PAR Program staff

in advance of the review. The fee covers application and program management and is based on the size of the

company. The fee is $250 plus HST for the Committed Level. Please contact PAR Program staff directly to

obtain an invoice for payment.

In addition to the PAR Application Fee, companies must cover the cost of the verifiers review through a

Verification Fee. The PAR Program maintains a list of qualified PAR Verifiers. Please contact PAR Program staff

directly to determine the cost of your company’s verification. The Verification Fee is paid directly to the PAR

Verifier


The Steps

Use the following checklist to work through the steps of participating at the PAR Committed level:

Completed? (Y/N)

Notes

1. Complete PAR Agreement and submit to PAR Program (Appendix A)

2. Submit payment of Application Fee to PAR Program Staff


4. Contact PAR Program to confirm receipt1 of your PAR Online Report

5. Receive information from PAR Program about options for Verifiers

6. Contact and confirm selected Verifier. Sign service agreement with verifier, if applicable.

7. Await final decision2 of the PAR Program regarding:

Company’s PAR level status (i.e. Committed)

High-level feedback of the verification report

PAR Committed logo for company’s use

8. Pay Verification Fee and any related expenses to the Verifier.

Notes of Interest Companies applying for PAR Committed should note the following:

Feedback from PAR Program is based solely on the information contained in your company’s PAR

Online Report. As the submitting company, you are responsible for its accuracy; accuracy in reporting

will ensure you receive the most beneficial feedback through the review process.

Feedback from PAR Program staff should not be considered consulting advice; for specific direction,

companies should consider detailed internal review processes and the potential of seeking advice from

external Aboriginal relations experts.

For the first year of participation at the PAR Committed level, at least one year of information is required.

Year two requires at least two consecutive years of information, and year three requires three

consecutive years of information. PAR Committed companies can participate at this level for only three

years to ensure that they are taking action on the high level advice provided by the external Verifier.

Following three years of Committee performance, there can be two outcomes: i) a company submits a

PAR Online Report at the PAR Certified level and is assessed at the bronze, silver or gold level; or ii) a

company fails to demonstrate significant progressive improvement and defaults to PAR Participant level

until such time that they resubmit and are re-assessed at the PAR Certified level.

Companies should understand that participation at the PAR Committed level does not guarantee

eventual certification.

All company submission material and report feedback is considered confidential (see Appendix A in the

PAR Program Agreement: Terms & Conditions).

1 Upon receipt of payment, PAR Program reviews the report for completeness and assigns the PAR report to a qualified Verifier who reviews

the report and submits a standardized verification report back to PAR Program staff. 2 This decision is typically received within four weeks of application and receipt of payment.



7. PAR Certified

An overview of PAR Certified Participation at the PAR Certified level of the PAR program offers companies an opportunity to receive

confirmation and recognition of their success and accomplishments in Aboriginal relations. PAR certification is

designed to offer the Aboriginal community a level of assurance about a certified company’s performance.

Achievements are recognized through the assignment of PAR certification at the bronze, silver or gold level.

Each level’s associated PAR logo can be used to promote and communicate the accomplishment to various

stakeholders through both internal and external company communications.

The PAR Certified process involves several parties: the company; the PAR Program staff; PAR Jury; and a PAR

Verifier. The following paragraphs and accompanying checklist describe what your company is responsible for

throughout the process of pursuing PAR Certification. Please note that at points during the process the other

parties will be actively, yet independently, working on the application process (See “Behind the Scenes” text box

on page 16).

Benefits of PAR Certified

All of the benefits from PAR Participant and PAR Committed plus:

More detailed PAR Verifier feedback from online submission review, company site visit, media scan and community interviews

Assessment of company performance by PAR Jury resulting in a PAR Certified level of Bronze, Silver or Gold

A public demonstration of your commitment to progressive Aboriginal Relations and use of the PAR Certified Logo, at the level assessed (one of Bronze, Silver or Gold)

Understanding the Fee Structure Companies applying for PAR Certified are asked to pay the PAR Application fee directly to PAR Program staff in

advance of the review. The fee covers application and program management and is based on the size of the

company. The fee is $500 plus HST for the Certified level. Please contact PAR Program staff directly to obtain

an invoice for payment.

In addition to the PAR Application Fee, companies must cover the cost of the verification through a Verification

Fee. The PAR Program maintains a list of qualified PAR Verifiers and a table of recommended Verification Fees

based on company size. Please contact PAR Program staff directly to determine the cost of your company’s

verification. Companies work directly with the PAR Verifier to arrange on-site visits. The Verification Fee is paid

directly to the PAR Verifier.

In addition to these two fees, companies are also responsible for verifier travel and related expenses.


The Steps Use the following checklist to work through the steps of participating at the PAR Certified level:

Completed? (Y/N)

Notes

PAR Online Report Submission

1. Complete PAR Program Agreement and submit to PAR Program staff (Appendix A)

2. Submit payment of Application Fee to PAR Program Staff


4. Contact PAR Program to confirm receipt3 of your PAR Online Report

5. Assign a liaison to work with verifier.

6. Receive information from PAR Program about options for Verifiers. Contact and confirm selected Verifier and date for onsite visit. Sign service agreement with verifier, if applicable.

7. The liaison will have the following responsibilities (Appendix B has a “To Do” list describing these steps in detail):

Provide online access to verifier as a viewer;

Provide verifier with a draft agenda, incorporating direction provided here and in Appendix B. See sample agenda in Appendix C);

Provide Verifier with list of potential community stakeholder interviewees and work with Verifier to identify who will take part in the company meetings with the Verifier;

Provide verifier with company org chart;

Arrange for office space for Verifier during scheduled visit;

Arrange for travel and accommodation with the Verifier;

And, remain on-site for support during scheduled visit.

Pre-Verification

8. Provide additional information to the Verifier, if requested, in advance or for review during the on-site visit. Additional materials may include manuals, reports or other documents mentioned in the PAR Online Report which were not uploaded as part of the Submission.

9. Provide support to Verifier in arranging for interviews with community stakeholders (either in advance or in the morning of the on-site visit) through the Community Liaison

10. Pay Verification Fee and any travel or related expenses to the Verifier.

Verification

11. Host the Verifier’s site visit to your company

PAR Jury Decision

3 Upon receipt of payment, PAR Program reviews the report for completeness and assigns the PAR report to a qualified Verifier who reviews

the report and submits a standardized verification report back to PAR Program staff



12. Await written response from the PAR Jury Chair, including the Jury findings, an overview of the Verifier findings and the award of bronze, silver or gold PAR standing.4

A note about community interviews Companies are asked to submit a list of potential community/partner interviewees to the verifier in advance of

the onsite visit. From the list, the verifier will select 3 to 4 to interview. The verifier will attempt to complete these

interviews in advance of the onsite visit. The interviews may also take place onsite, however, interviews will take

place before final meetings with senior company leadership in the area of Aboriginal relations so that concerns

raised during the interviews can be addressed.

A note about Re-certification In the PAR re-certification process, the Verifier may refer to both the company’s past and current PAR

submissions. The past submissions act as a benchmark to show how the company has improved its Aboriginal

relations over time. The Verifier reviews the current submission, and adjusts or maintains the company score

that is generated through online reporting by confirming aspects of the PAR Online Report and considering

stakeholder interviewee feedback. The objective of the stakeholder interviews during re-certification is to confirm

corporate alignment of impact with community perceptions.

4 Completion of the certification is based on the timing of the on-site visit but applicants can expect the process to take between 1 – 2

months.


Figure 2: Three Levels of PAR Certification

What happens ‘behind the scenes’ during the PAR Certification Process?

Pre-Verification: Once you’ve submitted your company’s PAR Online Report, the PAR Program staff will review

your document and will distribute it to the PAR Jury prior to the Verifier’s on-site visit. PAR Jury members will be invited to identify any areas of interest or concern that they would like the Verifier to seek confirmation or clarification. PAR Program staff submits the PAR Online Report to the Verifier that has been selected by your company, along with the media scan (completed by the PAR Program staff) and any comments from the PAR Jury. Verification: The purpose of the verification process is to validate the elements of your company’s PAR Online

Report, including the company's self-assessment of the level of integration of elements of strategy and management. The PAR Verifier is responsible confirming elements of your report to support the Jury process. Post-Verification: At the final phase of this certification process, the PAR Verifier provides the PAR Jury with the

Verifier’s final report including a summary of findings and the recommendation as to the level of certification for the company. The purpose of the verification is to ensure that the company has self-assessed accurately. It is then the role of the PAR Jury to confirm the Verifier’s findings and assign companies with PAR standing at the bronze, silver or gold level. The Jury has access to all reports (Media Scan Report, Community Interviews Report, PAR Verifier Report and the PAR Online Report), as well as full access to all information related to a company’s application. The Jury meets on an as-required basis, with the Verifier in attendance.


Appendix A: PAR Program Agreement

PAR Program Agreement

Terms and Conditions for Participation at the Committed and

Certified Level

Between

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

Hereinafter referred to as “CCAB”

And

_____________________________

Hereinafter referred to as “the company”


PAR Program Terms and Conditions

Please read the following terms and conditions carefully before signing at the bottom.

The company agrees to the following participation terms and conditions:

1. As a company participating in the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program, the company agrees to maintain its membership with the CCAB in good standing. Accessing PAR online is a benefit of CCAB membership.

2. The company agrees to comply with all terms and conditions of PAR participation, including terms related to use of the PAR logo (bronze, silver or gold) , which are included on the PAR site and which may be updated from time to time.

3. The company acknowledges that participation at the Committed level requires an additional fee to be paid to CCAB.

4. The company acknowledges that Certification requires an independent external verification at the company’s cost, that the assignment of a Certification level (bronze, silver or gold level) is a decision of an independent PAR jury, and that written notification of a successful certification from CCAB is required before use of the PAR logo.

5. The company acknowledges that Certification at any level is effective upon the date of written notification from CCAB and for a term of three years. The company agrees to undergo verification in its recertification year within one month of the expiry of its Certification, or to cease use of the PAR logo.

6. PAR companies agree that information submitted through the PAR online submission may be combined with that of other reporting companies for the purpose of identifying trends and aggregate impact of PAR companies.

7. The company is compliant with all laws and regulations applicable to its operations, including those related to any formal agreements (i.e. Impact Benefit Agreements) with the Aboriginal community or businesses.

CCAB agrees to the following:

1. Maintain as confidential, all information submitted by Certifying companies, unless otherwise approved by the company and a secure written agreement to the same by Jury members and Verifiers.

2. Support the company through the process of achieving Committed or Certified recognition.

3. Promote the company’s level of participation on the CCAB web site and in other communications as well as promote the program to stakeholder groups.

Disclaimer

The PAR Program and the Verifier makes no claim as to the accuracy of any company’s submission.


Declaration

The signature below indicates that the company, _________________ agrees to all of the above.

Signed in _______________, _______ on the __________ of _____________, 201_

________________________________

Name, Title

Witness _______________________________ Date: ________________________

CCAB Signature _______________________ Date: _________________________


Appendix B: PAR Certification Verification Process - The “To Do” List

Community Interviews/External Aboriginal Stakeholders

Interviews with external Aboriginal stakeholders play an important role in the PAR Jury’s decision making and assignment of PAR standing. Your company (through the assigned Community Liaison) should submit a list of potential interviewees with full contact information (phone numbers, email, address, etc.) that represent your company’s stakeholder groups. This list should be submitted to the Verifier at least two weeks in advance to their site visit. Please note that the Verifier reserves the right to request interviews with stakeholders not on the list provided. Interviews may take place over the telephone before the on-site visit or in-person during the on-site visit (note: it is preferred that the interviews take place prior to the site visit). The Community Liaison supports the scheduling of interviews as requested by the Verifier. A standardized interview format is used by the Verifier. (Appendix D). Companies will receive a summary of the community interview results.

Duration: Interviews of 15 to 30 minutes (by phone or in-person)

Who: A variety of representatives from community groups, Aboriginal entrepreneurs, suppliers or senior executives of community-owned businesses, Aboriginal community leadership (i.e. Chiefs)

Number: Minimum of 3 from a list of 10 -12

Site Visit Overview Site visits are designed for completion in one day for most companies, or less for smaller companies. Visits are generally held at head offices though may take place where a company has operations. In some cases, site visits may not be necessary. Site visits generally involve the following (outlined in more detail on the next page):

• Verifier Review of Additional\Requested Documentation • Community interviews if not completed before the day of the on-site visits • Meeting with the Senior Leadership Team • Aboriginal Employee Interviews • Meeting with Union Representative if applicable • Meeting with the Leads on Each Performance Area


Senior Leadership Meeting (not mandatory):

A meeting with the most senior leadership of the certifying company may be required. The objective would be to better understand the company’s commitment and the relationship between PAR, Aboriginal relations, and the company’s strategy. There may be cases where the President/CEO is unable to attend. In these cases, companies can provide justification to the Verifier. Note: In cases where the senior leadership is also responsible for implementation and the objectives in the four PAR performance areas (employment, business development, community investment and community engagement), this meeting may be considered optional. Duration: 30 minutes (maximum) Who: Highest executive leadership, including presidents, VP responsible for Aboriginal relations

Aboriginal Employee Interviews

Verification requires interviews with Aboriginal employees. This may be accomplished through a group discussion which may take place over lunch. This group discussion is fairly informal and will evaluate overall Aboriginal employee friendliness of the workplace and Aboriginal employee perceptions. Duration: 60 minutes (average) Who: Aboriginal employees, which may include members of any PAR Reporting committee formed for the certification process or Aboriginal members of any standing committee; however, Aboriginal persons that are part of the leadership meeting (see below) are not to attend this session.

Union Representative Interview

If the work place is unionized, the Verifier may select to interview a union representative to evaluate alignment of Aboriginal relations with union requirements. Unions are considered stakeholders. Duration: 15 minutes (maximum) Who: Union representative

Performance Area Lead Meeting

The mandatory attendees at this meeting are those individuals noted on the PAR submission as having the highest level of responsibility for Aboriginal relations in the four PAR performance areas - employment, business development, community investment and community engagement. It may include the president or CEO and/or VP with overall accountability for Aboriginal relations. The Verifier will confirm attendance. In-person participation is preferred but not mandatory. The objective is to provide the Verifier with the opportunity to clarify elements of the PAR Online Report and to address issues raised through stakeholder interviews. This meeting is the last element of the on-site visit, providing Performance Area Leads the opportunity to address issues raised through the process. Leads may also provide additional information or provide a short presentation (maximum 15 minutes). Duration: 1.5 hours (maximum) Who: A representative group of individuals with executive and management responsibility for Aboriginal relations across the four PAR performance areas. Participation will be confirmed by Community Liaison and Verifier in advance.


Appendix C: Sample Agenda

Name of Company

Date

Agenda

8:45am – 9:00am Arrival and verifier set up in office Room #

9:00 am – 9:30 am Welcome and Review of Day with Liaison and PAR

performance area leads

9:30 am – 10:00 am Outstanding Community Interviews

10:00 am – 10:45 am Verifier review of requested documents

11:00 am – 11:45 am Meeting with Aboriginal Employee Group

11:45 am – 12:45 pm Lunch (This could be a working lunch with the

Aboriginal Employee Networking Group, if one

exists)

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Meeting with Business Development Lead

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Meeting with Community Investment Lead

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm Meeting with Employment Lead

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Meeting with Community Engagement Lead

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Senior Leadership Meeting

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm Wrap Up/Follow Up

Verifiers may meet with PAR performance area leads individually, or as a group.

Community interviews should be completed prior to meetings with the lead company management in the four

PAR performance areas. These interviews can be conducted prior to the onsite visit, or early on the day of the

onsite visit.


Appendix D: Community Interview Results

par guideline 2015

Documents

par level

par participant

par certified

table of contents

contact ccab

companys intent

working group