Rules of the Board of Arbitration (Agriculture and Agri-Food) (SOR/2000-306)

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

• 1 (1) The definitions in this section apply in these Rules.

  Act

  Act means the Canada Agricultural Products Act. (Loi)

  complainant

  complainant means a person who files a complaint under subsection 9(1) of the Act. (plaignant)

  defendant

  defendant means a person against whom a complaint is filed under subsection 9(1) of the Act. (défendeur)

  party

  party means a complainant, a defendant or an intervenor. (partie)

  Secretary

  Secretary means the Secretary of the Board. (secrétaire)

• Marginal note:Interpretation

  (2) These Rules are to be liberally construed in order to permit the fairest, least expensive and most expeditious way of resolving complaints.

Rules of General Application

Marginal note:Procedural matters not provided for

2 If any question of procedure arises during a proceeding that is not covered, or not fully covered, in these Rules, the Board must decide the question in a manner that is consistent with these Rules.

Marginal note:Unfairness

3 If the application of any of these Rules would cause unfairness to a party during the complaint process, the Board may waive compliance with that rule.

Marginal note:Technical defects

4 A defect in form or a technical irregularity may be overlooked by the Board.

Marginal note:Calculating periods

5 In calculating periods under these Rules, all days must be counted except that, if the time ends on a Saturday, Sunday or other statutory holiday, the time must be extended until the next business day.

Marginal note:Extension of time limits

6 The Board may extend the time limits fixed in these Rules either before or after the end of the time limits fixed.

Marginal note:Public nature of filed documents

• 7 (1) A document filed with the Board by a party must be treated as a public document unless the party requests that the document be treated as confidential.

• Marginal note:Request for confidential treatment

  (2) Reasons must be given for the request that a document be given confidential treatment and, if it is alleged that disclosure would cause harm to the party, the reasons must include details of the nature and extent of the harm.

Marginal note:Documents to be in duplicate

• 8 (1) Any documents sent to the Board must be sent in duplicate.

• Marginal note:Submitting documents to the Board

  (2) All documents required to be submitted to the Board must be submitted by hand or by mail, registered mail, courier or facsimile.

• Marginal note:Faxes sent to the Board

  (3) The original and a copy of any document sent by facsimile must be sent by mail without delay after the facsimile transmission.

Marginal note:Filed information to be sent to parties

9 The Board is responsible for ensuring that copies of all documents submitted to it by a party are sent to the other parties.

Marginal note:Communications by the Board

10 Written communications by the Board may be delivered by hand or sent by registered mail, courier or facsimile.

Marginal note:Change of address or fax number

11 A party must without delay notify the Board of a change of facsimile number or address.

Marginal note:Teleconference

12 The Board may meet by teleconference for all purposes except for conducting hearings.

Marginal note:Representation of parties

13 A party may be represented by counsel or by an agent authorized in writing.

Marginal note:In camera hearings

• 14 (1) A hearing before the Board may, on the request of any complainant or defendant, be held in camera if that party establishes to the satisfaction of the Board that the circumstances of the case so require.

• Marginal note:Exclusion of witnesses

  (2) The Board may order a witness at a hearing to be excluded from the hearing until called to give evidence.

Marginal note:Taking notice

15 The Board may take notice of any matter in order to expedite any proceeding.

Marginal note:Impartiality of Board member

• 16 (1) If a party is of the opinion that a member of the Board is not in a position to act impartially, that party must without delay notify the Board in writing, stating the reason for that opinion.

• Marginal note:Exclusion of Board member

  (2) If the Board is of the opinion that the reason given by that party is valid, the Board must exclude the member from consideration of the complaint.

Marginal note:Conflict of interest

17 If the Board is of the opinion that a member of the Board is in a conflict of interest in relation to a complaint, the Board must exclude the member from consideration of the complaint.

Complaint

Marginal note:Filing complaint

18 A complaint must be filed with the Secretary together with copies of all relevant documents and a statement as to whether or not the complainant requests that a hearing be held.

Marginal note:Complaint to be signed

19 The complaint must be signed by the complainant or the complainant’s counsel or agent. If an agent signs the complaint, a copy of the complainant’s written authorization of the agent must be filed with the complaint.

Marginal note:Contents of complaint

20 The complaint must contain the following information:

• (a) a precise statement of the facts and the grounds on which the complaint is based and, if possible, stating the provision of the regulations made under the Act that the defendant allegedly failed to comply with;

• (b) the name, address, telephone and facsimile numbers of the defendant and of any agent representing the defendant in the transaction;

• (c) the quantity, quality or grade of each kind of agricultural product shipped;

• (d) the dates of shipment and arrival;

• (e) the identification of any shipping vehicles;

• (f) the shipping and destination points; and

• (g) the nature of the order requested and the amount of compensation requested.

Marginal note:Additional information

• 21 (1) The Secretary, after reviewing the complaint and all supporting documentation, may require the complainant to file additional information within the period fixed by the Secretary.

• Marginal note:Consequence of not providing information

  (2) If the complainant does not provide the additional information requested by the Secretary within the period fixed by the Secretary and fails to provide a reasonable excuse for the non-compliance, the Board may proceed with the complaint based on the information already filed with it.

Marginal note:Inappropriate complaints

22 If the Board is of the opinion that the complaint on its face is frivolous or vexatious or does not disclose a valid basis, the Board must declare the complaint inappropriate for consideration by the Board and so advise the complainant.

Marginal note:Notification of defendant

23 Unless the complaint is declared inappropriate for consideration by the Board, the Secretary must send to the defendant a copy of the complaint and copies of all documents submitted with it.

Disputing the Complaint

Marginal note:Filing a defence

• 24 (1) Within 30 days after the date on which the Secretary sends a copy of the complaint to the defendant, the defendant may file a defence with the Secretary.

• Marginal note:Documents to be filed

  (2) The defence must be accompanied by copies of all relevant documents not already filed by the complainant and a statement as to whether or not the defendant requests that a hearing be held.

Marginal note:Contents of defence

25 The defence must contain

• (a) a precise statement of the facts that constitute the grounds of the defence; and

• (b) a statement indicating which facts in the complaint are admitted, denied, or of which the defendant has no knowledge.

Marginal note:Filing a counterclaim

• 26 (1) If the complainant is a dealer licensed under the Act, the defendant may also, within 30 days after the date on which the Secretary sends a copy of the complaint to the defendant, file a counterclaim against the complainant.

• Marginal note:Documents to be filed

  (2) The counterclaim must be accompanied by copies of all relevant documents not already filed by the complainant or filed by the defendant in support of the defence and a statement as to whether or not the defendant requests that a hearing be held.

Marginal note:Contents of counterclaim

27 A counterclaim must contain the same information that is required for a complaint.

Marginal note:Defence and counterclaim to be signed

28 The defence and any counterclaim must be signed by the defendant or the defendant’s counsel or agent. If an agent signs the defence or counterclaim, a copy of the defendant’s written authorization of the agent must be filed with it.

Marginal note:Notification of complainant

29 The Secretary must send to the complainant a copy of the defence and of the counterclaim, if any, and copies of all documents submitted with them.

Marginal note:Additional information

• 30 (1) The Secretary, after examining the defence, the counterclaim, if any, and any supporting documents, may require the defendant to file additional information within the period fixed by the Secretary.

• Marginal note:Consequence of not providing information

  (2) If the defendant does not provide the additional information requested by the Secretary within the period fixed by the Secretary and fails to provide a reasonable excuse for the non-compliance, the Board may proceed with the complaint based on the information already filed with it.

Intervention

Marginal note:Request to intervene

31 At any time after the Secretary sends the complaint to the defendant, and before a hearing is scheduled for the complaint, any person, other than the complainant or the defendant, who has a direct financial interest in the proceedings may request to intervene by sending the Secretary a request in writing.

Marginal note:Content of request

• 32 (1) A request to intervene must describe the person’s financial interest in the proceedings, contain a precise statement of the facts and grounds that form the basis of the intervention and be accompanied by copies of any relevant documents.

• Marginal note:Request to be signed

  (2) The request must be signed by the person or the person’s counsel or agent. If an agent signs the request, a copy of the person’s written authorization of the agent must be filed with it.

Marginal note:Request accepted

33 If the Board is satisfied that the person has a direct financial interest in the proceedings and that the intervention would be useful to the proceedings, the Secretary must authorize the intervention and send to the other parties copies of the material submitted by the person.

Marginal note:Request denied

34 If the Board does not authorize the intervention of a person, the Secretary must return the material to that person.

Consideration of Complaint

Marginal note:Notice of hearing

35 If the complainant or defendant has requested a hearing, the Secretary must set a date, time and place for the hearing and must, in writing, notify the parties of that date, time and place.

Marginal note:Confirmation of presence

• 36 (1) Within 30 days after a party receives the notice of hearing, the party must notify the Board in writing as to whether they intend to attend the hearing or whether they intend to present evidence and make arguments in writing.

• Marginal note:Statement of evidence

  (2) A party that indicates that they will attend the hearing, must also, within 30 days after receiving the notice of hearing, provide the Board with a written statement of the names of the party’s witnesses and the general nature of their evidence.

• Marginal note:Statements to be given to parties

  (3) The Secretary must send a copy of the statement provided by a party under subsection (2) to the other parties.

Marginal note:Request for summons

• 37 (1) Within 30 days after a party receives the notice of hearing, the party may request that the Board issue a summons requiring any person to appear at the hearing to give evidence, or to produce any documents, relative to the subject-matter before the Board.

• Marginal note:Content of the request

  (2) The request must indicate why the evidence or documents would be relative to the subject-matter before the Board.

Marginal note:Refusal to issue summons

38 The Board may refuse to issue a summons at the request of the party if the Board considers that the evidence or documents would not be relative to the subject-matter before the Board.

Marginal note:Pre-hearing conference

• 39 (1) If a hearing is to be held and the Board is of the opinion that a pre-hearing conference might expedite the proceedings, the Board may request the Secretary to arrange a pre-hearing conference, to take place either by telephone or by the parties appearing before the Secretary, in order to

  • (a) simplify the issues;

  • (b) clarify the facts that are admitted and denied, or consider any amendment to the pleadings;

  • (c) determine the procedure to be followed at the hearing;

  • (d) exchange any further documents proposed to be given in evidence at the hearing; and

  • (e) attend to any other matters that may aid in the simplification of the evidence and the expeditious disposition of the hearing.

• Marginal note:Summary to be prepared

  (2) After any pre-hearing conference, the Secretary must summarize the matters that were agreed to by the parties and send a copy of the summary to them and to the Board.

• Marginal note:Restriction on communication

  (3) No communication may be made to the Board with respect to any statement made at the pre-hearing conference except as disclosed in the summary.