Human Rights Tribunal: Lack of Legal Knowledge Behind Many Dismissals
Tribunal Watch Ontario has raised concerns that many self-represented applicants are seeing their complaints dismissed at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) due to gaps in legal knowledge.
There’s been a notable increase in tribunal-initiated motions to dismiss, often issued in various formats that require applicants to file additional legal submissions. Unfortunately, many applicants fail to respond correctly, leading to the dismissal of their claims.
Procedural Changes at the HRTO
As of October 25, the HRTO announced a proposed overhaul of its procedures, including:
- Eliminating summary hearings
- Removing case management conference calls
- Cancelling expedited hearing options
- Discontinuing interim remedies
These changes come amid progress in reducing the tribunal’s caseload:
In June 2024, active cases totaled 8,800, down from 9,700 in February 2023—marking the first annual reduction in a decade.
At Sage Legal Solutions, we understand how overwhelming the human rights process can be. If you cannot afford full representation, we offer limited retainer services to help you:
- Edit your HRTO application
- Draft and file follow-up submissions
- Navigate forms required by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
📧 Email: contact@sagelegalsolutions.ca
📞 Phone: 289‑270‑7243