Fewer Backlogs and
Less Partisan Tribunals Act, 2024
MPP Ted Hsu
Kingston and the Islands
Co-sponsored by:
MPP Lucille Collard, Ottawa-Vanier
MPP John Fraser, Ottawa-South
MPP Stephanie Bowman, Don Valley West
Fewer Backlogs, Less Partisan Tribunals Act
Bill 179
I have tabled my Bill 179, the Fewer Backlogs and Less Partisan Tribunals Act, 2024.
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It addresses the delays in tribunals, such as the Landlord and Tenant Board, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Social Benefits Tribunal and the Licence Appeal Tribunal (for automobile accident insurance disputes). These delays have caused a lot of unnecessary distress and are a result of unfilled tribunal seats and inexperienced appointees. When the current government took power, they refused to re-appoint many qualified tribunal members appointed by the previous government.
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The legislation creates an independent Council to monitor the appointment, operational and severance policies of Ontario’s tribunals. It will have proactive approval, reporting and investigative powers and its chair will be an Officer of the Legislative Assembly.
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This oversight Council will work to ensure that appointments of members and chairs of Ontario’s tribunals are done in a merit-based way, and that tribunal seats are filled quickly instead of left vacant, waiting for the government of the day’s “preferred” people.
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The bill is expected to be debated on Thursday April 18th.
If you would like to speak out about the bill, by writing your MPP, writing newspapers, posting on social media or passing this on to interested friends, please do so over the next three weeks. ​
Please use the hashtag #MakeTribunalsBetter to amplify our message on social media to the Premier,
or click the button below to send an email in support of Bill 179.
​You can contact me at thsu.mpp.co@ola.org
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"If governments stop leaving vacancies while waiting for 'like-minded' or patronage appointees to tribunals, we'll be better served. You don't have to look further than the distress caused by long delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board."
- MPP Ted Hsu
"Nous avons besoin de juges qualifiés et expérimentés nommés en temps opportun pour réduire les importants retards dans nos tribunaux. Les juges doivent être nommés sur la base du mérite et non selon leur affiliation politique afin de protéger l'indépendance judiciaire."
- MPP Lucille Collard
"Access to justice is critical. Administrative tribunals are critical to people's lives. That we have a functioning system where people can get redress in a timely fashion, is very important."
- MPP John Fraser
"The residents of my riding of Don Valley West are struggling to access basic justice because of Premier Ford and his Conservative government’s failure to ensure that the Landlord Tenant Board and other tribunals have sufficient and competent resources to manage their caseload. It is inexcusable for a government to fail to deliver on one of the most basic functions its residents rely on."
- MPP Stephanie Bowman
Although the number of applications being submitted to the Landlord and Tenant Board is decreasing, the backlog has been growing for years.
Our Supporters
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Bill 179 is a product of collaboration.
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Dr. Noel Semple
Associate Professor at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law
Mat Lund
Paralegal representing people in front of tribunals
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MPP John Fraser
Ottawa-South
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MPP Stephanie Bowman
Don Valley West
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MPP Lucille Collard
Ottawa-Vanier
Tribunal Watch Ontario
Testimonial
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"I was an Adjudicator with the Social Benefits Tribunal for 11 yrs, and a Public Member of the Ontario Review Board for 2 years. My appointment was not renewed in 2019, due to the Ford government. I have applied more than 20 times to get back on a Tribunal, with no luck.
However; just to prove a point, I once applied to the Landlord Tenant Board under my middle name and maiden name, with less education and less qualifications and I was invited for an interview. This to me proved political prejudice, as I was well known to be active in the Liberal party. I was President of the Northumberland Provincial Liberal Association at one time.
I currently have a Human Rights Claim for this injustice, which I have been waiting for a hearing since Aug 2020.
I believe my situation is a perfect example that the current government does not care about it's backlog, since it refuses to interview or appoint an experienced person like myself."
- Denise Lemmon
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"... since the Ford government took office in 2018, the independence of the tribunals have been under sustained attack, with devastating results."
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"Last May, a report published by provincial ombudsman Paul Dubé found the LTB was 'fundamentally failing' to fulfil its mandate."
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"Some Ontarians have been living with violence and harassment for years and others were plunged into debt as the provincial tribunal dedicated to landlord and tenant disputes has become increasingly backlogged and broken, the province's ombudsman has found."
Additionally, here are some other resources on the issue:
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Toronto Star Editorial: Ontario’s Tribunals are Under Severe Attack
Noel Semple: The Inaccessibility of Justice in Ontario’s Adjudicative Tribunals
Noel Semple blog: A Sounder Footing for Ontario’s Tribunals
Ron Ellis’ Administrative Justice Reform blog
Liberals’ Hsu tables ‘Less Partisan Tribunals’ bill (paywall)
Law 360 Canada: Ron Ellis’s dream is now draft legislation for Ontario tribunals.
Tribute to Ron Ellis
For the full press conference, go to: Fewer Backlogs and Less Partisan Tribunals Act, 2024 (youtube.com)
