Thames v. Halton Community Housing Corporation, 2014 HRTO 1429

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario

B E T W E E N:

Natasha Thames

Applicant

-and-

Halton Community Housing, Peter Vansickle and G6 Canada Hospitality ULC

Respondents

DECISION

Adjudicator: Mary Truemner

Date: September 25, 2014

Citation: 2014 HRTO 1429

Indexed as: Thames v. Halton Community Housing Corporation

1The applicant filed an Application under s. 34 of the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, as amended (the "Code"), on December 11, 2013.

2On July 10, 2014, the Tribunal issued a Notice of Summary Hearing to the parties confirming that the hearing of the Application would take place on September 9, 2014 commencing at 1:30 p.m. by way of teleconference. The Notice was delivered to the applicant at the last address provided by the applicant to the Tribunal and was not returned as undeliverable.

3Rule 1.13 of the Tribunal's Rules of Procedure states, "A party must notify the Tribunal and all parties and their representatives, in writing, of any change in their contact information, as soon as possible." The applicant did not notify the Tribunal of any change in her address. I am therefore satisfied that the applicant had notice of the summary hearing.

4The applicant did not appear by way of teleconference at the commencement of the scheduled summary hearing. The respondents did attend by teleconference. In accordance with its usual practice, the Tribunal waited until 2:00 p.m. before proceeding.

5At 2:00 p.m., the applicant was still not in attendance nor had the applicant communicated with the Tribunal to explain the failure to attend. The respondents argued that the Application should be dismissed.

6In the circumstances, the Application was dismissed on the basis that the applicant was deemed to have abandoned the Application.