The Tribunal is launching consultations on changes to its Rules of Practice and Procedure to enhance the way land-related appeals are managed in Ontario, making services more efficient and accessible.

The Tribunal is revising Rule 18 to explicitly provide that the Tribunal may direct parties to discuss participating in OLT mediation. This change mirrors language that was already added to Rule 26.6 concerning expropriation claims. This change is part of a broader slate of enhancements to Tribunal-led mediation, aimed at encouraging early resolution of disputes and reducing the need for lengthy hearings. By promoting more consistent engagement with mediation, the Tribunal hopes to improve access to justice and foster more collaborative outcomes between parties.

The Tribunal is also revising Rule 25 to clarify and expand the Chair’s review powers, as authorized by Section 23 of the Ontario Land Tribunal Act. Revisions provide that the Chair’s powers to grant a Request for Review may involve ordering a rehearing or ordering that a decision be rescinded or varied. This aligns with the existing Rule 25.3(e), where a requesting party indicates their desired result of the review, such as a change or alteration to the decision or a rehearing of the proceeding. Additionally, the Tribunal is separating the existing grounds of review into two distinct categories: Rule 25.7 provides grounds regarding legal errors/bias, while Rule 25.8 focuses on discretionary grounds including allowing parties to bring a Request for Review, on consent, to amend a previous settlement. These changes are intended to enhance procedural flexibility in the review process, making it easier for parties to seek appropriate remedies and for the Tribunal to address issues efficiently and fairly.

The full suite of proposed changes and revisions to OLT Rules is now posted online for consultation.

Written comments may be sent with the subject line “OLT Rules of Practice and Procedure” by e­mail or regular mail to the following:

Email: OLT.CLO@ontario.ca

Mailing address:
Ontario Land Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, ON M5G 1E5

The OLT will consider comments received on or before January 12, 2026. The content, structure, form and wording of the draft Rules are subject to change as a result of the consultation process and any review, editing and correction by the OLT.

Comments on these proposed revisions will be considered public records and may be publicly disclosed by the OLT.

The Tribunal is committed to continually improving processes to better serve the people of Ontario and providing timely, fair, and principled resolutions for the matters that come before it.

MEDIA CONTACTS

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