Summary of Survey Responses for the Licence Appeal Tribunal
Tribunal Watch Ontario is a public interest organization with a mission to monitor Ontario’s adjudicative tribunal system, advocate for adjudicative independence, and promote access to justice. We monitor new appointments to ensure that candidates are selected following a competitive process. We advocate for appointment and reappointment processes that are inclusive, transparent, merit-based, and free from political influence. We also advocate for dispute resolution processes that are fair, expert, timely and accessible.
In 2021, Tribunal Watch Ontario circulated a brief survey to users of Ontario’s tribunals. In soliciting responses, Tribunal Watch wrote: “[We are] interested in your experience with Ontario’s adjudicative tribunals. The following survey was designed for persons – lawyers and others – advocating on behalf of clients in disputes requiring resolution by an Ontario adjudicative tribunal during the period from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2021. We have chosen this time period because it will allow us to compare the survey results with the data reported by the tribunal in its annual reports for the two fiscal years. The results of the survey will be made available to all interested parties.”
Conclusion
As Tribunal Watch prepares successive reports on survey responses relating to individual tribunals, a consistent pattern is quickly apparent. Several themes resonate across these different tribunals: (1) long delays; (2) lack of confidence in the expertise, independence and impartiality of the members; and (3) chronic inefficiencies that have only been worsened by the pandemic. Some respondents also express serious concerns about new online processes that create barriers for access to justice for parties without adequate or effective access to technology.
Tribunal Watch Ontario remains committed to monitoring this crisis in our adjudicative tribunal system, and advocating for dispute resolution processes that are fair, expert, timely and accessible.