The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, Environmental Review Tribunal, Board of Negotiation, Conservation Review Board and the Mining and Lands Tribunal will be merged into a new single tribunal know as the Ontario Land Tribunal.
At present, the various quasi-judicial adjudicative tribunals share an Executive Vice-Chair and administrative support.
Bill 245, introduced in the Ontario Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, includes numerous changes to the administration of justice in Ontario. I will focus upon the Land Tribunals portion.
The short is significance of the change is that any member of the existing tribunals will be able to hear matters which had previously been the purview of the other tribunals. Presently, many of the Vice-Chairs and above of the various tribunals are cross appointed and conduct hearings across the tribunals.
The changes in the legislation are primarily housekeeping.