Ontario Municipal Board - Board Structure

Board Structure

The provincial Cabinet determines the number of members of the board, appoints members to it, and designates one member as chair and one or more vice-chairs. These selections must be approved by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; once approval is given, the selections are deemed to have been made by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council. If the chair is absent or unable to act, a vice-chair is designated by the chair to perform those duties. If the office of chair is vacant, a vice-chair designated by the Attorney General exercises the jurisdiction and powers of the chair. The current chair is Marie Hubbard.

Board members are responsible for the adjudication of disputes between parties appearing before the Board pursuant to the governing Act. In carrying out this responsibility, members prepare for hearings, conduct hearings and make rulings and/or write decisions. Members conduct hearings as assigned by the Chair, in accordance with the Act and other applicable laws and with the policies, procedures and rules of the Board. Members make rulings and decisions on the basis of evidence and submissions and issue decisions in a timely manner. In preparing for the hearing, members review materials submitted by parties, conduct necessary research, identify opportunities for alternative ways of resolving the dispute and bring this to the attention of the Chair or the Chair's designate and make such preliminary rulings as may be necessary. Members also participate in Board member meetings, and when requested to do so by the Chair or the Chair's designate, in training and mentoring sessions and in committees established for the administration of the Board's adjudicative role. Appointees are expected to have the following abilities, skills and knowledge in order to carry out their responsibilities effectively: Demonstrated analytical, conceptual, problem-solving and writing skills; ability to listen and communicate clearly and effectively; computer literacy; good organization skills; well-developed dispute resolution skills; ability to objectively and fairly assess cases involving difficult issues regarding conflicting verbal/written evidence and the assessment of credibility; willingness to travel throughout the province for the purpose of conducting hearings; self-confidence; understanding of the justice system and the role of administrative tribunals in that system; expert knowledge of the Board's governing Act and related law or the ability to acquire such expert knowledge; understanding of the professional, institutional and community context within which the Board operates.

In July 2009 there are 27 members of the Board. Most of them are appointed for eight year terms, are designated Senior Management Group 1 for the purposes of compensation, and are paid between $CDN 91,450 – 104,500 per annum.