Appeal Tribunals

Some tribunals hear appeals.

For example, if WorkSafe BC made a decision about the amount of benefits you should receive after an injury, and you disagreed with its decision, you could appeal that decision to the Review Panel, which would review your case. If you still disagreed with that panel’s decision, you could appeal your case to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal.

Federal

Agriculture and products: Agriculture and Agri-Food Review Tribunal
Hears reviews of Board of Arbitration decisions and various Agencies’ notices of violations.

Cultural property (exportation): Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board
Certifies cultural property for income tax purposes and determines value; reviews appeals of applications for export permits.

Human Rights:Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
The Canadian Human Rights Act states that all Canadians have the right to equality, equal opportunity, fair treatment, and an environment free of discrimination. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) applies these principles to cases that are referred to it by the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC).

Immigration: Immigration and Refugee Board
Canada’s largest independent administrative tribunal. Its mission is to resolve immigration and refugee cases efficiently, fairly, and in accordance with the law. Hears appeals of sponsorship applications, appeals of removal orders, appeals of residency matters, and appeals of refugee protection applications.

Pensions: Pension Appeals Board
An administrative tribunal that is the third level of appeal for Canada Pension Plan Applicants. The Pension Appeals Board is responsible for hearing appeals that arise from the decisions of the Review Tribunals of the Office of the Commissioner.

RCMP: RCMP External Review Committee
Decides labour relations matters concerning the RCMP; reviews grievances and appeals from formal disciplinary hearings.

Taxation: Canada Revenue Agency
Reviews disputes about assessments of income tax, excise tax, goods and services tax, and harmonized sales tax, as well as Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance rulings and assessments.

Trade (international) Canadian International Trade Tribunal
Hears appeals from decisions of the President of the Canadian Border Services Agency under the Customs Act and Special Import Measures Act and the Minister under the Excise Tax Act.

Transportation: Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada
Reviews notices of an administrative or enforcement action taken by the Minister of Transport, railway safety inspectors or the Canadian Transportation Agency under various federal transportation Acts.

Veterans’ benefits: Veterans Appeal and Review Board
Hears appeals regarding veterans, Canadian Forces personnel, Royal Canadian Mounted Police members, certain civilians, and/or their respective dependants receiving the disability pensions and benefits to which they are entitled. Hears appeals from the decisions of the Minister of Veterans Affairs; provides two levels of appeal on disability pension applications and the final level of appeal on allowance decisions.

Provincial

Agricultural land: Agricultural Land Commission
An independent agency responsible for administering BC’s land use zone in favour of agriculture. Hears appeals from an official’s decision on land use.

Assisted living: Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board
Hears appeals from licencing, registration, and certification decisions about assisted living residences.

Building codes: Building Code Appeal Board

Community care: Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board
A tribunal created under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act to hear appeals from licencing, registration, and certification decisions about community care facilities and assisted living residences.

Educators (early childhood): Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board
A tribunal created under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act to hear appeals from licencing, registration, and certification decisions about community care facilities and assisted living residences.

Employment: Employment Standards Tribunal
An administrative tribunal established under the Employment Standards Act with a mandate to conduct appeals of decisions made by staff in the Employment Standards Branch.

Environment: Environmental Appeal Board
Hears appeals from decisions of government officials on environmental issues (e.g., water licenses, contamination site remediation orders, and pesticide permits).

Farming: Farm Industry Review Board
General supervision of marketing boards and commissions; hears appeals from decisions under the Natural Products Marketing (BC) Act, Agricultural Produce Grading Act, and Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act.

Financial services: Financial Services Tribunal
Appeals contesting enforcement decisions made by the Insurance Council of British Columbia, Real Estate Council of British Columbia, Superintendent of Real Estate, Superintendent of Pensions, Registrar of Mortgage Brokers, and Superintendent of Financial Institutions.

Forestry: Forest Appeals Commission
Hears appeals from decisions made by government officials related to forests and the environment.

Health Professions: Health Professions Review Board
Reviews registration and complaint disposition decisions made by any of the designated self-regulated health professions colleges.

Hospitals: Hospital Appeal Board
An independent, quasi-judicial appeal tribunal that reviews determinations regarding permits to practice in a hospital. Provides medical practitioners with an avenue of appeal from hospital board decisions affecting hospital privileges.

Income assistance: Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal
Hears appeals of the Ministry of Housing and Social Development decisions that refuse, reduce or discontinue income, disability assistance or a supplement under the Employment and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act, and Ministry of Children and Family Development decisions that refuse, reduce or discontinue a subsidy under the Child Care Subsidy Act.

Passenger transportation: Passenger Transportation Board
Hears appeals on administrative penalties (including fines and licence suspensions) that are imposed on an operator by the Registrar of Passenger Transportation.

Property assessment: Property Assessment Appeal Board
Hears appeals from the Property Assessment Review Panel.

Safety: Safety Standards Appeal Board
An adjudicative tribunal that hears appeals from decisions under the Safety Standards Act and the Homeowner Protection Act.

Training (industry): Industry Training Appeal Board
Hears appeals on decisions of Industry Training Appeal Board on refusing suspension or cancellation of industry training credential or industry training recognition credential; a refusal to register or cancellation of registration of an individual as a trainee; revocation of, or cancellation of the registration of, an industry training agreement.

Workers’ Compensation: Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal
Final level of appeal in the workers’ compensation system, hearing appeals brought by workers and employers from decisions of WorkSafeBC. WCAT receives compensation, assessment, and prevention appeals from decisions of the Review Division. Receives appeals from WorkSafeBC decisions regarding applications for reopening of compensation claims, complaints regarding discriminatory actions, and applications for certificates to the court.