The WSIAT has new hearing start times and procedures for Teleconference and Videoconference hearings, effective October 3, 2022. These changes were made to meet the anticipated increase in videoconference hearings at the WSIAT, while continuing to provide professional technical assistance from WSIAT IT staff to assist hearing participants.
Stakeholders will receive proposed date letters from the WSIAT with updated hearing start times after October 3, 2022. Stakeholders with appeals or applications that have hearings already scheduled for mid-November will receive revised hearing notices from our Scheduling department.
The changes in procedure are set out below:
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As of mid-November 2022, all Videoconference and Teleconference hearings will begin at either 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., or 1:00 p.m.
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All hearing participants are expected to log onto Zoom for their videoconference hearing (or dial into their teleconference hearing) 5 minutes prior to the scheduled hearing start time. (i.e. at 8:55 am, 9:55 am or 12:55 pm).
- It is critical that all hearing participants arrive 5 minutes before the designated hearing start time to avoid unnecessary delays.
WSIAT IT staff will continue to start hearings, and will be available for technical assistance throughout the hearing.
Late Hearing Participants will be subject to sections 5 and 6 of the Practice Direction: Notice of Hearing and Failure to Attend.
If you have trouble connecting or have misplaced the connection details for your hearing, please contact your designated hearing coordinator from the WSIAT as soon as possible. Your designated hearing coordinator is identified on the hearing notice.
The new hearing start times are part of a pilot project, and will be evaluated and adjusted as necessary in the New Year.
Representatives who have participated in a videoconference or teleconference hearing and have feedback about the new hearing start times are invited to provide feedback to the WSIAT by completing a survey. The survey can be found here. Please return the completed survey by email to the Director of Appeal Services, Nicole Bisson at Nicole.Bisson@wst.gov.on.ca. We look forward to hearing your feedback about new hearing start times.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.