Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Decision Information
Mina Hedayat made a complaint against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada but has not participated in the complaint process. Although the Tribunal tried to contact Ms. Hedayat by email and telephone, it did not get a response. The Tribunal finds that Ms. Hedayat has abandoned her complaint and, as a result, dismisses her complaint. The file will be closed.
Decision Content
Canadian Human |
|
Tribunal canadien |
Citation: 2024 CHRT 129
Date:
Between:
Complainant
- and -
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Commission
- and -
Respondent
Decision
Member:
I. OVERVIEW
[1]
[2] Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Respondent, argues that the Tribunal should dismiss the complaint because the Complainant has failed to pursue their complaint, has not respected the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure, 2021 SOR/2021-137 (the “Rules of Procedure”), has not met any deadlines and has not responded to the Tribunal’s numerous attempts at contact.
[3] The Canadian Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) did not make any submissions and is not participating in this matter.
II. DECISION
[4] The complaint is dismissed as abandoned. The Complainant has not participated in the complaint process, and they have not responded to any of the Tribunal communications to advance their complaint.
III. ANALYSIS
[5] The Tribunal must conduct proceedings as informally and expeditiously as the requirements of natural justice and the rules of procedure allow (s. 48.9(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. H-6). The Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure are to be interpreted and applied to secure the informal, expeditious and fair determination of every inquiry on its merits.
[6] Administrative tribunals are masters in their own house. The Tribunal can dismiss a complaint if a party does not comply with its Rules of Procedure (Rule 9) and can make any order it considers necessary against vexatious conduct or abuse of process (Rule 10).
[7] It is the complainant’s responsibility to advance their file and to provide their contact information (Towedo v Correctional Service Canada, 2024 CHRT 6 at paras 4–5; Mohamed v Royal Bank of Canada, 2024 CHRT 84 at para 11). The other parties are also entitled to have their complaints addressed in a timely way (Rivard v. Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation, 2021 CHRT 21 at para 39). Failing to appear or to otherwise participate in the process can result in a complaint being dismissed as abandoned (Sewap v. Correctional Service Canada, 2024 CHRT 97).
[8] At the beginning of May 2024, the Tribunal issued a ruling dismissing the Respondent’s request to stay the complaint proceedings until the resolution of all issues before the Federal Court. Following the ruling, on May 16, 2024, the Tribunal sent a letter setting deadlines for the Commission’s disclosure and for the Complainant to file their Statements of Particulars, disclosure and witness lists. On June 14, 2024, the Tribunal granted an extension for the deadlines originally set. Some additional correspondence was sent to the parties, and, in September 2024, the Tribunal tried to reach the Complainant by telephone. The Registry had not sent the Tribunal’s earlier emails to the Complainant, so they were resent on September 6. Her spouse confirmed they had received the Tribunal’s communications.
[9] The Tribunal also asked the Commission and the Respondent if they had another address for the Complainant or were aware of any other way to reach them. The Commission and the Respondent did not provide any further information.
[10] On October 9, 2024, the Tribunal sent another letter setting a deadline of October 18, 2024, to respond and warning that, in the absence of a response, the complaint could be dismissed as abandoned. It again tried to reach the Complainant by telephone but could not reach the Complainant and could not leave a voicemail.
[11] In the absence of any response or indication from the Complainant that they wish to proceed with their complaint, I find that this matter should be dismissed as abandoned.
[12] The Tribunal has tried to reach the Complainant by every means available using the contact information the Commission provided. The courier the Tribunal sent was returned but its emails were not returned as undeliverable. The Tribunal also warned the Complainant that their complaint could be dismissed if they failed to respond.
[13] I accept IRCC’s submission that the Complainant has, without explanation, failed to respond to the Tribunal’s numerous attempts to communicate with them and has not complied with their obligations under Rule 18 of the Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure. I have not been presented with information about any challenges or personal circumstances faced by the Complainant to explain their lack of participation in the process such that it would be unfair to dismiss the complaint. It is also the Complainant’s responsibility to provide updated contact information.
[14] In the absence of any response or indication from the Complainant that they wish to proceed with their complaint, I find that this matter should be dismissed as abandoned.
IV. ORDER
[15] The complaint is dismissed as abandoned. The Registry will send a letter to the parties confirming that this file has been closed.
Signed by
Tribunal Member
Ottawa, Ontario
December 2, 2024
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Parties of Record
Style of Cause:
Written representations by: