Messages from Manager, Projects Court Services, Office of Director, City of Toronto concerning Toronto Local Appeal Body

In the next while, I will be posting some Long Branch Updates from David Godley; in the meantime, below is a message that he has shared by way of a recent email:

March 8, 2017 message from Susan Garossino

Hello Mr. Godley,

Duxbury Law is retained to provide legal services to the Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB) during its formative stage and the legal services do not include responding to inquiries on behalf of TLAB during this period.

In response to your inquiry on the process through which the rules will be adopted, the TLAB received the draft rules and provided direction to Duxbury Law at their public meeting on March 1st. The City Solicitor will bring a bylaw implement the Toronto Local Appeal Body to City Council once the formative activities are completed as outline in Council decision, (here’s the link to the council report http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2016.EX13.1 ).

When City Council enacts the Toronto Local Appeal Body, the Toronto Local Appeal Body will adopt their Rules of Practice and Procedure and administrative policies at a public meeting. The administrative polices will include a Public Meeting Policy and a Public Consultation Policy.

The Toronto Local Appeal Body’s next public meeting is scheduled for April 19, 2017. Correspondence related to agenda items must be submitted to prior to the start of the public meeting. As information becomes available, it will be posted on the TLAB’s website at: www.toronto.ca/tlab.

Hopefully this information is helpful,

Thank you

Susan Garossino
Manager, Projects
Court Services, Office of Director
City of Toronto
481 University Avenue, 9th Floor
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
416-338-3410
susan.garossino@toronto.ca

Match 8, 2017 reply from David Godley

Hello Susan,

Thank you for pointing out that David Marshall is not the appropriate person to reply.

I misunderstood when he invited me to raise an issue.

Thank you also for the information on process and the link.

I am appreciative of the information TLAB send me and the website where I can keep up to date.

I am actually not interested in having my submitted information discussed and the turnaround was too tight to have this happen.

What I wish is for the hearing officers to have a good grasp of the issues so they can make appropriate decisions.

It is doubtful whether they will get input about local issues from other sources and there seems no formal input to the process prior to going to a City body.

I would ask you to forward to TLAB the information as background to their ongoing discussions. As you may note there are issues broader than early disclosure.

As previously mentioned I am interested in having TLAB start as soon as possible but want it to be on a sound basis.

Communities across Toronto are relying on the new format and have been fighting in successful and unfair battles for years.

I am concerned that TLAB may turn out to be like the elitist OMB, in which case we are no further ahead.

Can you please clarify when in the process of adopting the rules and procedures, the public will have a chance to have its say.

Will there be a public meeting of the PGM Committee or does this go through another City committee prior to arriving on the Council agenda.

Are there any time frames?

Thank you in advance.

Yours truly,

David Godley

March 9, 2017 reply from Susan Garossino

Hello David,

It is anticipated that later in March Council will consider a formal constituting bylaw for Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB) with an anticipated effective date towards the middle of April 2017.

As a quasi-judicial tribunal, TLAB establishes its own Rules of Practice and Procedure pursuant to legislation. TLAB must formally consider and adopt administrative policies, Rules of Practice and Procedure and Forms so that they are in place in April.

TLAB anticipates the need of a period of practice experience including actual Hearing experience. It will then convene a public meeting, with notice, to take input through public deputations on the need for improvements or revisions if any.

Final versions of the draft Rules, forms and policies will be posted when they become available on the TLAB website at www.toronto.ca/tlab.

Thank you

Susan Garossino
Manager, Projects
Court Services, Office of Director
City of Toronto
481 University Avenue, 9th Floor
Toronto ON M5H 2N2
416-338-3410
susan.garossino@toronto.ca