The Government of Ontario has announced the creation of a new tribunal organization, the Ontario Land Tribunals, effective July 1, 2020.  The new organization will include the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), Environmental Review Tribunal, Board of Negotiation, Conservation Review Board and the Mining and Lands Tribunal.  The Assessment Review Board will remain a part of Tribunals Ontario.  Please note, Marie Hubbard, the former Associate Chair of the LPAT, has been appointed as the Executive Chair of the Ontario Land Tribunals when the organization is established on July 1, 2020.

Ontario Land Tribunals will adjudicate and mediate matters related to land use planning, environmental and heritage protection, expropriated land valuation, mining and other matters.  Ontario Land Tribunals will focus on land-related dispute resolution to help increase the housing supply in the province, while balancing the needs of environmental protection and conservation.

Additionally, effective July 1, fees for filing appeals with the LPAT will increase.  The filing fees will depend on the type of appeal being made.  Under the LPAT's new fee model, different filing fees will be charged based on tribunal time and resources required to resolve different types of appeals.  For additional details on this new fee model, please see the Tribunals Ontario news release.

The Ontario Land Tribunals will focus on more efficient land and environmental disputes resolution to help increase the housing supply, which helps support More Homes, More Choice: Ontario's Housing Supply Action Plan.  A news release from the Ministry of the Attorney General is available here with the following quote from Attorney General Doug Downey:

"Our government is committed to creating a justice system for the 21st century, one that is more accessible, responsive and resilient.  More efficient services at tribunals is a key element of our plan as they will drive innovation in the justice sector and more more services online.  Ms. Hubbard's experience reducing the backlog at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal will help ensure land disputes continue to be resolved quickly, and more housing is built across the province."

As a result of the creation of the new organization, the former Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario website will be decommissioned.  On July 1, 2020, the new Ontario Land Tribunals website will be found at www.olt.gov.on.ca.