Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Decision Information
Samantha Towedo has a human rights complaint at the Tribunal. The Tribunal, however, has not heard from Ms. Towedo since June 2021. The Tribunal doesn’t have a way to reach her either. It’s up to Ms. Towedo to advance her case and make sure the Tribunal can contact her. The Tribunal decided to close this case because Ms. Towedo hasn’t contacted it since June 2021.
Decision Content
Canadian Human |
|
Tribunal canadien |
Citation: 2024 CHRT 6
Date:
Between:
Complainant
- and -
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Commission
- and -
Respondent
Decision
Member:
[1] The Tribunal has not been able to communicate with Samantha Towedo, the Complainant, since June 2021. At that time, Ms. Towedo indicated that she would be interested in participating in mediation. The Tribunal has not been able to communicate with Ms. Towedo since then, as it does not have an address or any contact information for her since she was released from custody.
[2] The Tribunal asked the Canadian Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) and Correctional Service Canada (CSC), the Respondent, for contact information for Ms. Towedo in August and October 2021, in February, April and September 2022 and in June 2023. Neither CSC nor the Commission have been able to locate Ms. Towedo, and neither have any forwarding information for her. The Tribunal also tried to communicate with Ms. Towedo at the telephone number it had on file for her, but the number does not appear to be in service.
[3] Most recently, on January 16, 2024, the Tribunal asked CSC and the Commission for any updates or information regarding Ms. Towedo. The Tribunal also asked the parties if they had any submissions on how to proceed in light of the inability to contact the Complainant.
[4] The Commission advised that it could not reach Ms. Towedo or her mother. The phone number that Ms. Towedo had provided to the Commission was out of service, and the Commission did not have any other means of contacting her. Similarly, CSC had no updates on Ms. Towedo’s whereabouts and confirmed that she is no longer under their jurisdiction or in custody. CSC also asked that the complaint be dismissed given the lengthy delay and inability to contact the Complainant. It submits that it is up to Ms. Towedo to advance her case and to provide her most recent contact information.
[5] I agree. In the circumstances, Ms. Towedo is deemed to have abandoned her complaint. Without a means to contact the Complainant or any communication from her to indicate that she wishes to proceed with her complaint, the complaint is dismissed.
ORDER
[6] The complaint is dismissed as abandoned. The Tribunal’s file will be closed, and the Registrar will advise the parties accordingly.
Signed by
Tribunal Member
Ottawa ON
February 12, 2024
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Parties of Record
Style of Cause:
Julie Hudson & Geneviève Colverson, Commission Counsel
Raymond Lee, Respondent Counsel