Hearings under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018

Overview

Hearings for cannabis Retail Manager Licence and Retail Operator Licence matters under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 are heard by the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), which is an independent, quasi-judicial agency of the Government of Ontario that adjudicates applications and resolves disputes concerning compensation claims and licensing activities regulated by the provincial government. LAT is one of five tribunals in the Safety, Licensing Appeals and Standards Tribunal Ontario (SLASTO) cluster; it is not part of the AGCO.

If you have received a Notice of Proposal (NOP) issued by the Registrar, you have the right to a hearing/appeal before LAT. For more information about requesting a hearing/appeal as well as any fees LAT may require, please visit the LAT website.

Notice of Proposal

If the Registrar proposes to refuse, revoke or suspend a Retail Operator Licence, Retail Manager Licence, or to revoke or suspend a Retail Store Authorization, the Registrar will serve a Notice of Proposal (NOP) on the applicant/licensee outlining the reasons for the proposed action.

Applicants/licensees who wish to dispute a NOP issued by the Registrar may appeal it. If you receive an NOP and wish to request a hearing, you have fifteen (15) days to appeal to LAT. If an appeal is not received within fifteen (15) days, the Registrar may carry out the proposed action and a final Order will be issued.

The Registrar’s decision to issue or refuse a Cannabis Retail Store Authorization is final. Relief may be sought by way of an Application for Judicial Review to the Superior Court of Justice.

In a situation where there are serious violations alleged such that it is in the public interest not to allow a licensee to continue to sell cannabis, the Registrar may immediately suspend a Retail Operator Licence, Retail Store Authorization or Retail Store Manager Licence.

In certain instances, including where the holder of a Retail Operator Licence, a Retail Store Authorization or a Retail Manager Licence is convicted of selling cannabis to a minor, the Registrar is required by the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 to immediately revoke the licence or authorization.

LAT Decisions

Decisions of hearings held before LAT, can be found on the LAT website.

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