Important Notice

September 16, 2024

Tribunals Ontario is observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2024. Our offices will be closed on September 30 and proceedings will resume as scheduled on October 1. Filing deadlines for September 30 will be extended to October 1 and applicable timelines that are calculated by business day will be extended one day.

TO Video proceedings

Learn about how to prepare for a virtual proceeding, such as a hearing, mediation, or case conference, at one of the boards, commissions, or tribunals under Tribunals Ontario.

Check the letter or email (notice) that you received from your tribunal (for example, Notice of Hearing, Notice of Mediation, Notice of Case Conference) for the time and date of your proceeding. It will include a Zoom link to join the video proceeding. Keep the notice handy so you can access this information on the day of your proceeding.
Make sure you have access to a computer or Smartphone with a camera and microphone. If you have access to a computer, it may provide a more stable connection and video viewing experience versus a Smartphone. Headphones are recommended for better sound quality. You can also join the proceeding by telephone.
Download and install the Zoom app on your computer or Smartphone if you don’t already have it. Please ensure you have updated Zoom to the latest version. If you are using an outdated version of Zoom, you may experience technical difficulties. You can find the latest version of Zoom software on Zoom’s Download Center webpage. You can also use Zoom in your web browser as another option to connect. For more information on how to join by Zoom app or web browser, please watch the video guide How to Join a Virtual Proceeding.
Check that your computer or Smartphone is working properly:
1. Check your internet speed. If you have a slow connection, it may be helpful to use a hard-wired internet connection through an ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi. For more information on how to check your internet speed/bandwidth, review the Tips for Connecting to your Zoom Proceeding .
2. Test your microphone to make sure others can hear you. Test your speaker(s) and headphones to make sure you can hear during the proceeding.
3. Conduct a Zoom test by joining a test meeting on the Zoom website.
4. Familiarize yourself with the Zoom features you may use during your proceeding. For example, make sure you know how to raise your hand, mute and unmute, rename yourself, and share your screen or a document. For more information on how to use these features, watch Basic Zoom Controls in Virtual Proceeding and Additional Zoom Controls in Virtual Proceeding.

On the day of your proceeding

Find a private space with minimal background noise. Turn off telephone ringers, email alerts and anything else that could cause a distraction.
Optimize Zoom’s performance by closing all other applications and programs on your computer or phone.
Position your camera at eye level so that your face is visible. Where possible, position yourself so the light is shining in front of you, rather than from behind you, which can make you appear in shadow. For example, you don’t want your camera facing a window.
If possible, connect to Zoom early so you can address any technical issues and be on time for your hearing. Some tribunals may ask you to join by a specific time. Check your notice or email invitation.
Once you have connected to Zoom, you will be placed in the lobby/waiting room. You may be waiting there for a few minutes until you are let into the hearing. This is normal – do not disconnect.
If joining from a phone or computer that has video, ensure your video is turned on. To minimize background noise, mute your microphone when you are not speaking.

What to do if you can’t connect to your proceeding

If you are unable to join by video proceeding or if you are disconnected and cannot immediately reconnect:

Contact the tribunal immediately:
- Animal Care Review Board: Email ACRB.registrar@ontario.ca.
- Assessment Review Board: Email ARB.Registrar@ontario.ca and contact your Case Coordinator.
- Child and Family Services Review Board: Contact your Case Processing Officer. Their contact information is provided in the meeting invitation.
- Fire Safety Commission: Email FSCregistrar@ontario.ca.
- Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario: Email HRTO.registrar@ontario.ca and the other parties.
- Landlord and Tenant Board: Email (LTBHearingSupport@ontario.ca) or call (416-212-9064, toll-free 866-769-7865) the Zoom Technical Support line.
- Licence Appeal Tribunal: Email LATregistrar@ontario.ca or call 416-326-1356 (toll-free 1-888-444-0240) and ask to speak to your Case Management Officer.
- Ontario Civilian Police Commission: Email OCPCregistrar@ontario.ca.
- Ontario Parole Board: Email OPBregistrar@ontario.ca.
- Ontario Special Education Tribunal (French and English): Email OSET@ontario.ca.
- Social Benefits Tribunal: Email SBT.Registrar@ontario.ca or call 416-326-0978 (toll-free 1-800-753-3895) and ask to speak to your Appeal Resolution Office.
Try to join by phone if you cannot rejoin by videoconference. The notice from your tribunal will have the phone number to dial-in and any other information you need to join the proceeding by phone. In some cases, if a party is not able to rejoin, the adjudicator may adjourn the proceeding if they determine it cannot proceed fairly.

Joining your hearing by phone

You can join a Zoom video proceeding by phone. You will not be able to see the other participants and they will not be able to see you, but you will be able to hear each other.

The toll-free phone number to call and the meeting ID code are in your notice or email invitation. You will be asked to enter the meeting ID, followed by the pound/hashtag sign (#). If the hearing has not started and the host has not yet joined, press # to wait for the host.

Once you are let into the hearing room, you will be connected to the hearing. You will be on mute. You will be asked for your name. It will be entered into Zoom so that those participating in Zoom can see that you are there and know who is speaking.

To mute and unmute yourself, press *6. To signal that you wish to speak, press *9. This will show that you have raised your hand. Lower your hand by also pressing *9.

If you are having issues connecting to a Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) hearing

The LTB has established a virtual hearing technical support line for troubleshooting technical issues users may face while joining their hearing on Zoom. Hearing participants who have technical issues on the day of their hearing can email LTBHearingSupport@ontario.ca, or call 416-212-9064 (toll-free 866-769-7865). Staff will help the participant join their hearing. Contact the LTB for more information.

Other important information

What is expected of parties and participants?

The same formal etiquette and protocol of in-person proceedings is expected in a video proceeding. This means:

At the start of the proceeding, you should identify any other persons present at your location. You must let the tribunal or board know if anyone joins you after this time. Depending on the circumstances, the tribunal may require those other persons to leave the room during the proceeding.
During the proceeding, you may be asked to turn your video on.
You should stay on mute unless you are:
- Making an argument or submission
- Questioning a witness
- Giving testimony
You are expected to be courteous and respectful of the proceeding and all participants.

Protocol for disruptions during virtual events and proceedings

Tribunals Ontario is committed to providing a safe and respectful space for parties to participate in virtual proceedings. The health, safety and well-being of staff, adjudicators and participants attending virtual events and proceedings is a top priority. Please refer to the Tribunals Ontario protocol for disruptions during virtual events and proceedings for information about how Tribunals Ontario will respond to significant disruptions, sometimes known as ‘Zoom bombing’, during virtual events and proceedings.

Rules for witnesses

Parties are responsible for providing the Zoom link to their witnesses (if applicable) and informing them that they must join Zoom at the required time to give their evidence.

To protect the integrity of the proceeding, rules for witnesses include:

Witnesses are not permitted to testify with others present, without prior approval of the tribunal. The tribunal may direct the witnesses to be alone when giving testimony.
Witnesses should have all documents before them that are required when giving their testimony.
Witnesses cannot be assisted by others during their testimony.

How to request an accommodation

Accommodations are arrangements that allow everyone to participate fully in the tribunal process, regardless of their abilities. You can request an accommodation by submitting an Accommodation Request Form . For more information, review Tribunals Ontario’s website on requesting an accommodation.

Public attendance at a virtual proceeding

If you want to observe a public proceeding on Zoom, please reach out to the respective tribunal to get instructions. Not all tribunal proceedings are open to the public.

Observers of a proceeding are expected to cooperate with the instructions of the tribunal and to be courteous and respectful of the proceeding and all participants. You may be asked to state your name and the purpose for attending the proceeding. To minimize disruptions, you should remain on mute throughout the proceeding.

Recording hearings

It is an offence to record a tribunal proceeding unless an exception applies. Learn more about this rule in the Statutory Powers Procedure Act.

Legal disclaimer

By clicking on the link to the Zoom video proceeding, personal information such as your name, email address and IP address may be collected, stored, used and disclosed by Zoom in accordance with their Privacy Policy and the Canadian Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. Please refer to Zoom’s Privacy Policy for more information.

Video proceedings

TO Video proceedings

On this page

Resources

Tips for Connecting to your Zoom Proceeding and Basic Zoom Controls

Tribunals Ontario Zoom video guides

How to join a virtual proceeding

Basic Zoom controls for a virtual proceeding

Additional Zoom controls in virtual proceeding

Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) virtual hearing video guides

Your Hearing Day: Part 1 – Joining an LTB hearing

Your Hearing Day: Part 2 – What to expect at your LTB hearing

Preparing for a video proceeding

Before the day of your proceeding