3. These Rules shall be liberally construed to secure the fairest, least expensive and most expeditious determination of every proceeding, in accordance with section 35 of the Act.

4. Except where the context otherwise requires, this Part applies to all proceedings before the Tribunal.

5. Where, in any proceeding, a question of procedure arises to which these Rules do not provide an answer, or the answer they do provide is incomplete, the question shall be disposed of, consistently with such, if any, of these Rules as are applicable, in such manner as the Tribunal directs.

6. The Tribunal may dispense with, vary or supplement any of these Rules if it is fair and equitable to do so or to provide for a more expeditious or informal process, as the circumstances and considerations of fairness permit.

6.1 The Tribunal may, on its own initiative or on the written request of a party, combine two or more proceedings to provide for a more expeditious or informal process, as the circumstances and considerations of fairness permit.

7. No proceeding is invalid by reason of a defect in form or a technical irregularity.

8. If it is fair and equitable to do so, the Tribunal may extend or abridge the time limits fixed by these Rules or otherwise fixed by the Tribunal, either before or after their expiry.

9. Unless otherwise provided, the computation of time under these Rules or a direction of the Tribunal is governed by sections 26 to 28 of the Interpretation Act.

• 10. (1) A person who proposes to participate in a proceeding, other than a proceeding under Part II or Part X, shall file with the Tribunal a notice of participation on the relevant Tribunal form on or before the date that is specified in the notice published in the Canada Gazette under rule 54, 65, 71, 73.1, 73.5, 76, 78 or 85, as the case may be.

• (2) If a person referred to in subrule (1) sets out, in the notice of participation, the name of the counsel by whom they will be represented, the counsel shall file with the Tribunal a notice of representation on the relevant Tribunal form on or before the date that is specified in the notice published in the Canada Gazette under rule 54, 65, 71, 73.1, 73.5, 76, 78 or 85, as the case may be.

• 11. (1) A counsel who signs a document filed pursuant to these Rules on behalf of any party shall be the counsel of record for the party commencing on the date of filing and continuing until a change, if any, is made in accordance with subrule (2).

• (2) A party in a proceeding may change the party’s counsel of record by

  • (a) filing with the Tribunal a Notice of Change of counsel of record signed by the new counsel;

  • (b) serving a copy of the Notice on the former counsel and every other party in the proceeding; and

  • (c) filing with the Tribunal proof of service of the Notice.