What should members do with documents that they would like to present to the panel during their hearing?

Members must send the documents or electronic files that they want to use as evidence during their hearing to the Tribunals’ Office by email (tribunals@oct.ca). This should be done before the hearing so that the Tribunals’ staff can upload the files to eScribe for use at the hearing. The Practice Direction for Electronic Proceedings lists specific information about timelines and how to name, combine, format, and email documents to the Tribunals’ Office. For example, documents for a contested matter should be submitted at least five days before the hearing in PDF format.

In a contested hearing, the panel is not provided before the hearing with any of the documents or electronic files that are sent to the Tribunals’ Office, unless the parties consent otherwise. In an uncontested hearing, the panel may receive the Notice of Hearing and any signed agreements between the parties in advance of the hearing.

Members have to introduce each piece of evidence to the panel during the hearing as an exhibit. College Counsel can object to members introducing documents or electronic files that are not related to the hearing. The panel will decide whether the evidence should be allowed and will only consider the documents or evidence that were properly presented to them during the hearing when making their decision.