Accessibility and Inclusion

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The purpose of this information sheet is to ensure every person who engages with the Property Assessment Appeal Board (the Board) has the opportunity to participate fully and equitably in the Board’s processes:

  • by notifying the Board of any information to enhance accessibility, and inclusion, and
  • by requesting an alternate arrangement to remove barriers.

The Board is committed to treating all with dignity and respect and providing an accessible, inclusive and culturally safe environment in which all persons have equitable access to the Board.  The Board is committed to the identification, removal and prevention of barriers, including attitudinal, systemic, information, communication, technology, and physical barriers.

To ensure the Board’s processes are accessible and inclusive, the Board’s processes will be designed and provided in a manner that 

  • respects the dignity and independence of all persons,
  • fosters cultural safety and equitable physical and functional access, and
  • promotes the inclusion and meaningful participation of all persons.

Any person engaged in the Board’s processes may notify the Board of information to enhance inclusion or request an alternate arrangement.

Examples of information to enhance inclusion include

  • the appropriate pronunciation of a person’s name, 
  • a person’s pronouns or preferred manner of address or title (for example, “Counsel” or “Appellant” or “Mx”), and
  • the name a person uses if it is different from the name used to file the appeal, or, if applicable, the one that appears on title.  

Examples of alternate arrangements include

  • flexibility and extensions of time,
  • modification of methods of communication, 
  • breaks during the hearing,
  • asking participants to speak loudly or slowly,
  • dimmed lighting at an in-person Board processes,
  • more time to answer oral questions at a hearing, and
  • closed caption enabled videoconference.

A party should request an alternate arrangement as soon as possible so that the Board can take steps to address the identified barrier.

When considering a request for an alternate arrangement, the Board may consider how the alternate arrangement might impact

  • the participation of all parties in the process,
  • the timeliness of the appeal process,
  • the fairness of the process,
  • the Board’s mandate and resources, and
  • the Board’s Rules of Practice and Procedure.

Where the Board determines the request may affect the rights of another party, you may have to disclose of some (or all) of your request to continue.  Please see the section “Confidentiality” below for more information.   

If the Board declines to grant the requested alternate arrangement, where possible, it will work with you to find another arrangement that meets your needs.

The Board’s decision on a request for an alternate arrangement does not affect a decision on the merits of an appeal.

Support Person

The Board welcomes support persons, including at appeal management conferences and hearings. They may attend, observe, translate and assist, but they may not participate in the proceeding as a witness or advocate.  For example, a party may have their adult child attend an appeal management conference to help the party connect to the teleconference, pass documents and take notes.

Sometimes a party will designate an agent to act on their behalf.  If you would like to designate someone as your agent, you may contact the Board with the request.

Confidentiality 

Except as discussed below, the Board will not share the information you provide to support your request. 

There are four situations in which the Board will share information:

  1. You tell us you would like it shared (for example, your pronouns).
  2. The information is on the notice of appeal.  A notice of appeal is provided to the Assessor and forms part of the record if there is a published decision after a hearing in the appeal.
  3. The information is in your written submissions.  Any written submission, or evidence received in the course of a hearing, becomes a public document once the decision is published.
  4. Where the Board determines the requested alternate arrangement might impact the rights of another party in the appeal.  If the Board determines that the request will affect the rights of another party, the Board will tell you this and ask if you still wish to continue with the request.  If you do wish to continue, the Board will share the information and give the other party a chance to respond before deciding the request. 

For more information on how the Board shares information on appeals, please review the Board’s Guidelines for Information Access for Board Appeals.  
 

April 2023