Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Dismisses Application for Failure to Attend Mediation

Strategic Insights -

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, led by Adjudicator Alexandra Barthos, has made a decision in the case of Tribe v. Ontario (Office of the Children's Lawyer), dismissing the application for alleged discrimination due to gender identity and/or gender expression. The applicant, Deborah Tribe, failed to attend a scheduled mediation on May 28, 2025, and did not communicate with the Tribunal to explain their absence. As a result, the applicant was deemed to have abandoned the application.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario dismissed the application due to the applicant's failure to attend a scheduled mediation on May 28, 2025.
  • The applicant, Deborah Tribe, did not provide any explanation for their absence and did not respond to the Tribunal's correspondence.
  • The Tribunal sent the applicant a letter on May 28, 2025, warning them of the potential consequences of not responding, but received no response.
  • The applicant has been in contact with the Tribunal via email as recently as May 29, 2024.
  • The Tribunal deemed the applicant to have abandoned the application due to their failure to respond to correspondence.
  • The decision was made by Adjudicator Alexandra Barthos on July 24, 2025.

Statistics:

  • Date of decision: July 24, 2025
  • File number: 2024-56869-I
  • Citation: 2025 HRTO 1824
  • Date of scheduled mediation: May 28, 2025
  • Time for response to correspondence: June 6, 2025

Sources:

  • Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (2025-07-24). Tribe v. Ontario (Office of the Children's Lawyer). (Decision).