New dispute adjudication rules and website increase access to justice

June 10, 2014 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Transportation Agency

The Agency is launching new dispute adjudication rules and a new website to provide more user-friendly, transparent and timely service to Canadians.

The new Rules will make dispute adjudication processes faster, more transparent and more predictable. The improvements in the Rules reflect feedback from client surveys and consultations indicating a need for faster service and clearer, plain language information on how the Agency resolves disputes. In addition, an innovative, interactive annotation to the Rules gives people easy access to all the information and tools needed to participate effectively in dispute proceedings.

The revamped website supports the new Rules with a completely reorganized structure and user-friendly web tools, informed by extensive usability testing. And – for the first time ever – users can file adjudication disputes and upload documents electronically.

The new rules and web tools will help people who wish to use adjudication services but who are not familiar with legal processes, as well as clients and stakeholders who appear more regularly before the Agency.

Quick facts

As a quasi-judicial tribunal, the Agency resolves disputes related to the national transportation system.

Adjudication is a formal, court-like process used to resolve disputes, where parties present written arguments and evidence to a Panel of one or more Agency Members, who act like judges.

Quotes

“I’m proud of the way our new Rules and website will increase access to administrative justice,” said Geoffrey Hare, Chair and CEO of the Canadian Transportation Agency. “Our clients told us they wanted clearer information and faster, streamlined service – we’ve listened and now we have delivered.”