Glossary

Glossary Terms

Adjournment – An adjournment means that a hearing will be postponed for a later date. To ask for an adjournment, please fill out and submit the Request to Adjourn form.

Affidavit – An affidavit is a written statement made under oath that can be presented as evidence at a hearing.

Applicant – An Applicant is the person or corporation that makes an application to the Board.

Appellant - An Appellant is the person or corporations that makes an appeal to the Board.

Decision – A decision is the final judgement of the Board Member. It may be given orally at the hearing, though a written decision should be issued soon after the hearing.

Electronic Hearing – This is a hearing that is held by telephone conference or some other form of electronic technology.

Hearing Event – This is any form of hearing that takes place at the Board.

Motion – A motion is when a party asks the Board to do something before or during a hearing. For example, a person may ask for certain documents to be presented, ask to have clarification on a procedure or ask to have the proceedings dismissed. If granted, a motion hearing will be held either in person or by telephone conference.

Oral Hearing – An oral hearing is a hearing attended by the parties or their representatives in person before the Board.

Order – A Board decision is final only when it issues a formal Order. The OMB usually issues the Decision and the Order in one document.

Participant - A participant is an individual, group or corporation that may take part in some or all of an OMB hearing.

Party – A party is an individual, group or corporation that is accepted by the Board to be a party and is fully involved in an OMB proceeding.

Pre-hearings - A pre-hearing may be scheduled to clarify complicated issues, including identifying parties and participants, and developing procedures to follow during the hearing.

Representative - A representative is an agent who has been authorized, in writing, to represent a party at an OMB proceeding.

Settlement Conference – This meeting is held between parties involved in an OMB hearing with the intention of resolving some or all of the matters in dispute.

Summons - A summons is a legally binding document that compels a person to attend a hearing as a witness. It can also require the witness to bring certain documents and appear on the date and at the place specified.

Teleconference – A teleconference is a type of hearing that is held over the telephone.

Visual Evidence – This type of evidence, including computer-generated images, photographs, maps, videos, plans, surveys, models and overlays, can be introduced at a hearing event.

Written Evidence – This type of evidence, including reports, letters, charts, graphs, books of account, and information recorded or stored by means of any devices, can be introduced at a hearing event.

Written Hearing – This type of hearing in nature, is held by means of the exchange of documents whether in written form (hard copy) or electronic form.

Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario

Glossary

Glossary Terms