Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) regulates the practice of engineering in Ontario and plays a central role in protecting the public through the licensing and oversight of one of the province’s most visible professions.
Like many regulators, PEO operates in an environment where expectations around transparency, accessibility, and accountability continue to evolve. Communications must do more than inform. They must help explain regulatory roles, support public understanding, and reinforce confidence in the decisions, actions, and responsibilities of the organization.
With a broad and diverse audience that includes licence holders, applicants, government, partners, universities, and the public, PEO required a clearer understanding of how its communications systems, messaging, and channels were performing and where opportunities existed to strengthen alignment with its public-interest mandate.
MDR conducted a structured communications audit using its Regulatory Communications Evaluation Framework, a model designed specifically for public-interest regulators and the unique communications demands they face.
The review examined communications across several dimensions, including governance alignment, messaging clarity, digital presence, stakeholder engagement, internal communications processes, and the effectiveness of existing communications channels.
Our work included a detailed review of public-facing communications materials, website content, publications, and digital platforms, as well as discussions with leadership and staff responsible for communications and engagement.
In addition to assessing communications outputs, the audit considered broader institutional questions, including whether communications practices were helping PEO clearly articulate its role, explain its decisions, and support understanding of its public protection mandate.
The audit provided PEO with a clear, evidence-based assessment of its communications environment, including strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
The findings identified areas where communications practices were effectively supporting the organization’s role, as well as opportunities to improve consistency, clarity, and alignment across channels and audiences.
The work also established a foundation for more strategic communicati
By approaching communications as a strategic function rather than a tactical one, the audit reinforced the role that effective communication plays in regulatory legitimacy, transparency, and public confidence.
PEO is better positioned to align its communications with its mandate, strengthen understanding among key audiences, and support more consistent and effective engagement with the public and the profession.
The result was a stronger platform for communications that not only informs, but also builds trust and reinforces the organization’s role in protecting the public.
