When filing any document with the Tribunal, except for documents filed with an Application (Form 1), a Response (Form 2) or a Reply (Form 3), a party or any other person must include the following information:

1. name of the Applicant and Respondent in the Application;
2. name of the person filing the document and, if applicable, his/her representative’s name;
3. mailing address, telephone number and, if available, email address and fascimile number (bolded text to be removed) of the person filing the document or his/her representative; and
4. Application file number, if available.

Documents may be filed with the Tribunal by:

1. fascimile transmission (fax) to the Tribunal’s fax number (bolded text to be removed);
2. courier or regular, registered or certified mail to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario at its mailing address;
3. e-mail – HRTO.Registrar@ontario.ca, with attachments not greater than 10mb in one e-mail;
4. as directed by the Tribunal.

Notwithstanding Rule 1.17, Applications filed by the Commission or by the Legal Support Centre must be filed electronically in accordance with the Practice Directions of the Tribunal.

Documents received after 5 p.m. by fax or (bolded text to be removed) email will be deemed to have been received on the next business day.

When filing paper documents by courier or regular, registered or certified mail (bolded text to be added), a party must file a paper copy and an electronic copy or a second unbound paper (bolded text to be removed) copy of any bound document.

A party filing any document, other than an Application (Form 1) or a Response (Form 2) under ss. 34(1) or 34(5) of the Code, including by email, must deliver a copy of the document to all other parties to the Application and must verify that s/he has done so by filing a Statement of Delivery in Form 23 or by confirming the delivery to the other parties on the cover letter or email.

For applications filed with the Tribunal prior to June 1, 2025, a mediation shall be scheduled in every application where the parties have agreed to participate in mediation.

For applications filed with the Tribunal on or after June 1, 2025, a mediation shall be scheduled in every application filed with the Tribunal.

Where the Tribunal directs a party, intervenor or affected person to attend mediation, that party’s attendance shall be mandatory.

The Tribunal may determine that intervenors or affected persons should receive notice of the mediation and should be entitled to participate.

A party or a person with authority to settle on the party’s behalf must be present at the mediation.

Parties, intervenors and affected persons and their representatives in attendance at mediation must agree to abide by the confidentiality agreement before the mediation commences.

All matters disclosed during mediation are confidential and may not be raised before the Tribunal or in other proceedings, except with the permission of the person who gave the information.

Where an applicant is directed to attend mediation and fails to attend, the Tribunal may:

1. dismiss the Application;
2. take any other action it considers appropriate.

Where a respondent, intervenor or affected person is directed to attend mediation and fails to attend, the Tribunal may:

1. proceed in the respondent, intervenor or affected person’s absence;
2. If the Application does not settle:
   1. determine that the respondent, intervenor or affected person is not entitled to further notice of the proceedings;
   2. determine that the respondent, intervenor or affected person is not entitled to participate further in the proceedings, including by presenting evidence or making submissions to the Tribunal; and/or
   3. take any other action it considers appropriate.

Where the terms of any settlement are in writing and signed by the parties the parties may request that the Tribunal dispose of the matter in accordance with their agreement by filing a confirmation of settlement using Form 25 (Confirmation of Settlement). Parties may also ask the Tribunal to issue a consent order in accordance with s. 45.9 of the Code.

Where the parties settle the Application during the mediation but do not file a Form 25 before the mediation concludes, the parties have 14 days from the date of the mediation to either file a Form 25 or confirm their intention to proceed with the Application. If neither of these steps are taken by the deadline noted, the Tribunal may administratively close the file without further notice to the parties.