Tribunals Ontario is taking action to expand options to access our services and enhance digital literacy resources for users who may not be familiar with using technology so that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, is able to participate fully in tribunal processes.
New access options
New options Tribunals Ontario is introducing to make our tribunals more accessible include:
- Access terminals: Expanding our access terminal service to our Sudbury office, which will enhance access to justice in Northern Ontario. These terminals allow parties who do not have access to a computer, phone or internet to participate in their virtual hearings at one of five locations in the province: Toronto, Hamilton, London, Ottawa and (now) Sudbury. Tribunals Ontario is actively exploring options to further expand coverage across the remainder of the province and is targeting to have a plan in place by the end of the year.
- Free phone program: Facilitating telephone access to hearings by making our free phone pilot at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) a permanent program, and extending it to parties before the Social Benefits Tribunal and Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Our website and tribunal documents will be updated to provide more information about the free phone program so that users are better aware of the options available to them.
- ServiceOntario: Working with partners to expand our LTB services so that more users can file LTB applications and documents in person, with three new ServiceOntario locations now accepting LTB filings.
Digital literacy resources
New digital literacy supports to help ensure users have the digital skills and ability to be full and active participants in their virtual proceedings include:
- New video guides: Launching a series of short, user-friendly video guides that provide technical instructions for using Zoom to participate in a tribunal proceeding, including How to Join a Virtual Proceeding, Basic Zoom Controls in a Virtual Proceeding, and Additional Zoom Controls in a Virtual Proceeding.
- New website resources: Updating our website to consolidate all of our digital literacy resources on our Videoconferencing webpage, including our comprehensive Zoom User Guide and new Tips for Connecting to your Zoom Proceeding .
- Stakeholder and public information sessions: Providing information sessions for the public and stakeholders in September 2022 to answer some of the most common questions from LTB parties using the Tribunals Ontario Portal.
Tribunals Ontario remains committed to access to justice and will continue to explore opportunities to increase access and new tools that will improve digital literacy for all parties participating in virtual proceedings.