About the hearing process

All hearings are conducted under the rules of the Statutory Powers Procedures Act. A person who is appointed as a Director or Deputy Director under the pertinent legislation will adjudicate your hearing. An Operations Liaison/Intelligence Officer represents the Ministry at most hearings.

If a hearing names you as a party to a hearing, you will receive a notice to appear before the Director. The notice will tell you:

• the time and location of the hearing
• the Act and regulation under which the hearing is held
• the reasons that the hearing is being called
  

What powers does the Director have?

Under Ontario law, the Director may impose one or more of the following orders on the owner/operator of a licensed facility or operation depending on the Act:

• Licence continues with conditions. Operations are allowed to continue with restricted activities. Or, corrective action must be taken within a set timeframe.

• Detained or held product is disposed of.

• Licence is suspended for a specified period of time, or until specified corrective action is taken. For abattoirs, suspension of a licence means that no slaughter can take place during this time. This equates to a loss of production during that period - in many cases, a substantial economic loss and a significant deterrent. A suspension of license for a free standing meat plant means from the date of suspension forward, the plant would not be allowed to process meat products including the packaging and distributing of products.

• Licence is revoked. The facility closes;

• Other orders that will bring a facility into compliance with Ontario law.

Learn more

• Have you been called to a hearing? Here's what to expect
• Read recent hearing decisions