Samuel Burns v. Toronto Social Housing Connections, 2008 HRTO 316

HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL OF ONTARIO

B E T W E E N:

Samuel Burns

Applicant

-and-

Toronto Social Housing Connections

Respondent

INTERIM decision

Adjudicator: Brian Cook

Date: November 26, 2008

Citation: 2008 HRTO 316

Indexed as: Burns v. Toronto Social Housing Connections

1The applicant filed an Application under section 34 of the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19 as amended, (the “Code”) on September 16, 2008.

2On September 23, 2008 the Tribunal issued a Notice of Application to the respondent. The respondent was advised that a Response must be filed with the Tribunal not later than 35 days after September 23, 2008. As of the date of this decision the respondent has not filed a Response, nor has the Tribunal’s correspondence been returned.

3An application to the Tribunal starts a legal proceeding. A finding that a violation of the Code has occurred may lead to various orders, including monetary compensation, other forms of restitution to the applicant, and orders to take action to promote compliance with the Code. Failure to file a Response or participate in a Tribunal proceeding may lead to orders against respondents without their participation. The respondent’s attention is drawn to Rule 5.5 of the Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure which reads as follows:

5.5 Where an Application is delivered to a Respondent who does not respond to the Application, the Tribunal may:

a) deem the Respondent to have accepted all of the allegations in the Application;

b) proceed to deal with the Application without further notice to the Respondent;

c) deem the Respondent to have waived all rights with respect to further notice or participation in the proceeding;

d) decide the matter based only on the material before the Tribunal.

4The applicant has provided a mailing address for the respondent. The Tribunal shall send a copy of this interim decision to the respondents by courier and regular mail.

5If the respondent wishes to participate in this proceeding, the respondent must file a Response by December 2, 2008, together with an explanation of why the Response was not filed in accordance with the September 23, 2008 Notice of Application. If a Response is not received, the Tribunal may proceed without further notice to the respondent and may take any or all of the steps set out in Rule 5.5.

6I am not seized of this matter.