HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL OF ONTARIO

B E T W E E N:

Lyudmila Pechnikova

Applicant

-and-

Housing Connections

Respondent

INTERIM decision

Adjudicator: Kathleen Martin

Date: April 18, 2011

Citation: 2011 HRTO 723

Indexed as: Pechnikova v. Housing Connections

[1] The applicant filed an Application under section 34 of the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19 as amended, (the “Code”) on April 14, 2010.

[2] On July 6, 2010 the Tribunal issued a Notice of Application to the respondent. The respondent was advised that a Response must be filed with the Tribunal within 35 days of the date of the Notice. The respondent did not file a response to the Application. The Tribunal’s correspondence was not returned to it.

[3] On October 21, 2010 the applicant confirmed the mailing address for the respondent is as set out in her Application.

[4] On December 14, 2010 the Tribunal re-issued the Notice of Application to the respondent. The respondent was advised that a Response must be filed with the Tribunal not later than January 18, 2011. As of the date of this Interim Decision the respondent has not filed a Response, nor has the Tribunal’s correspondence to it been returned.

[5] An 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 individual and corporate 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.

[6] The applicant has provided an address for the respondent. The Tribunal shall send a copy of this Interim Decision to the respondent by regular mail and courier.

[7] If the respondent wishes to participate in this proceeding, it shall file a Response with the Tribunal within 10 days of the date of this Interim Decision, together with an explanation of why the Response was not filed in accordance with the 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.

[8] I am not seized of this matter.

Dated at Toronto, this 18^th day of April, 2011.

”Signed by”

Kathleen Martin

Vice-chair