Refugee Appeal Division Rules (SOR/2012-257)

Marginal note:Excluded witness

65 If the Division excludes a witness from a hearing room, no person may communicate to the witness any evidence given while the witness was excluded unless allowed to do so by the Division or until the witness has finished testifying.

Changing the Location of a Hearing

Marginal note:Application to change location

• 66 (1) A party may make an application to the Division to change the location of a hearing.

• Marginal note:Form and content of application

  (2) The party must make the application in accordance with rule 37, but is not required to give evidence in an affidavit or statutory declaration.

• Marginal note:Time limit

  (3) Documents provided under this rule must be received by their recipients no later than 20 days before the date fixed for the hearing.

• Marginal note:Factors

  (4) In deciding the application, the Division must consider any relevant factors, including

  • (a) whether the party is residing in the location where the party wants the hearing to be held;

  • (b) whether a change of location would allow the hearing to be full and proper;

  • (c) whether a change of location would likely delay the hearing;

  • (d) how a change of location would affect the Division’s operation;

  • (e) how a change of location would affect the parties;

  • (f) whether a change of location is necessary in order to accommodate a vulnerable person; and

  • (g) whether a hearing may be conducted by means of live telecommunication with the person who is the subject of the appeal.

• Marginal note:Duty to appear

  (5) Unless a party receives a decision from the Division allowing the application, the party must appear for the hearing at the location fixed and be ready to start or continue the hearing.

Changing the Date or Time of a Hearing

Marginal note:Application to change date or time

• 67 (1) A party may make an application to the Division to change the date or time fixed for a hearing.

• Marginal note:Form and content of application

  (2) The party must

  • (a) make the application in accordance with rule 37, but is not required to give evidence in an affidavit or statutory declaration; and

  • (b) give at least six dates and times, within the period specified by the Division, on which the party is available to start or continue the hearing.

• Marginal note:Notice of period specified by Division

  (3) The Division must provide notice of the period referred to in paragraph (2)(b) in a manner that will allow public access to it.

• Marginal note:Hearing two working days or less away

  (4) If the party wants to make an application two working days or less before the date fixed for the hearing, the party must make the application orally on the date fixed for the hearing.

• Marginal note:Factors

  (5) In deciding the application, the Division must consider any relevant factors, including

  • (a) in the case of a date and time that was fixed after the Division consulted or tried to consult the party, any exceptional circumstances for allowing the application;

  • (b) when the party made the application;

  • (c) the time the party has had to prepare for the hearing;

  • (d) the efforts made by the party to be ready to start or continue the hearing;

  • (e) in the case of a party who requests more time to obtain information in support of their arguments, the Division’s ability to proceed in the absence of that information without causing an injustice;

  • (f) whether the party has counsel;

  • (g) the knowledge and experience of any counsel who represents the party;

  • (h) any previous delays and the reasons for them;

  • (i) whether the date and time fixed were peremptory;

  • (j) whether the change is required to accommodate a vulnerable person;

  • (k) whether allowing the application would unreasonably delay the hearing or likely cause an injustice; and

  • (l) the nature and complexity of the matter to be heard.

• Marginal note:Subsequent application

  (6) If the party made a previous application that was denied, the Division must consider the reasons for the denial and must not allow the subsequent application unless there are exceptional circumstances supported by new evidence.

• Marginal note:Application for medical reasons

  (7) If a person who is the subject of an appeal makes the application for medical reasons, other than those related to their counsel, they must provide, together with the application, a legible, recently dated medical certificate signed by a qualified medical practitioner whose name and address are printed or stamped on the certificate. A person who has provided a copy of the certificate to the Division must provide the original document to the Division without delay.

• Marginal note:Content of certificate

  (8) The medical certificate must set out

  • (a) the particulars of the medical condition, without specifying the diagnosis, that prevent the person from participating in the hearing on the date fixed for the hearing; and

  • (b) the date on which the person is expected to be able to participate in the hearing.

• Marginal note:Failure to provide medical certificate

  (9) If a person who is the subject of an appeal fails to provide a medical certificate in accordance with subrules (7) and (8), the person must include in their application

  • (a) particulars of any efforts they made to obtain the required medical certificate, supported by corroborating evidence;

  • (b) particulars of the medical reasons for the application, supported by corroborating evidence; and

  • (c) an explanation of how the medical condition prevents them from participating in the hearing on the date fixed for the hearing.

• Marginal note:Duty to appear

  (10) Unless a party receives a decision from the Division allowing the application, the party must appear for the hearing at the date and time fixed and be ready to start or continue the hearing.

Abandonment

Marginal note:Abandonment after hearing scheduled

• 68 (1) In determining whether an appeal has been abandoned under subsection 168(1) of the Act after a date for a hearing has been fixed, the Division must give the appellant an opportunity to explain why the appeal should not be declared abandoned,

  • (a) immediately, if the appellant is present at the hearing and the Division considers that it is fair to do so; or

  • (b) in any other case, by way of a special hearing, after notifying the appellant in writing.

• Marginal note:Factors to consider

  (2) The Division must consider, in deciding if the appeal should be declared abandoned, the explanation given by the appellant and any other relevant factors, including the fact that the appellant is ready to start or continue the proceedings.

• Marginal note:Medical reasons

  (3) If the appellant is the person who is the subject of the appeal and the explanation includes medical reasons, other than those related to their counsel, they must provide, together with the explanation, the original of a legible, recently dated medical certificate signed by a qualified medical practitioner whose name and address are printed or stamped on the certificate.

• Marginal note:Content of certificate

  (4) The medical certificate must set out

  • (a) the particulars of the medical condition, without specifying the diagnosis, that prevented the person from pursuing their appeal; and

  • (b) the date on which the person is expected to be able to pursue their appeal.

• Marginal note:Failure to provide medical certificate

  (5) If a person who is the subject of an appeal fails to provide a medical certificate in accordance with subrules (3) and (4), the person must include in their explanation

  • (a) particulars of any efforts they made to obtain the required medical certificate, supported by corroborating evidence;

  • (b) particulars of the medical reasons included in the explanation, supported by corroborating evidence; and

  • (c) an explanation of how the medical condition prevented them from pursuing their appeal.

• Marginal note:Start or continue proceedings

  (6) If the Division decides not to declare the appeal abandoned, it must start or continue the proceedings without delay.

Coming into Force

Marginal note:S.C. 2001, c. 27

Footnote ^*69 These Rules come into force on the day on which section 110 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act comes into force, but if they are registered after that day, they come into force on the day on which they are registered.

• Return to footnote ^*[Note: Rules in force December 15, 2012, see SI/2012-94.]