Public Health Appeal Board

Overview

The Public Health Appeal Board (PHAB) hears appeals from people served with orders under section 62 of the Public Health Act and in respect of decisions to issue, cancel, suspend, or refuse to issue a licence, permit or other approval as defined in the Public Health Act regulations.

The PHAB is a quasi-judicial board and functions independent of government departments to ensure fairness and impartiality when hearing appeals of decisions made under the Public Health Act (part 1, sections 3 to 7).

• Read the Public Health Act and regulations

PHAB appeal process

The appellant should familiarize themselves with the PHAB Rules of Procedure for detailed information about PHAB proceedings.

What can be appealed

The orders and decisions that can be appealed include:

• an order issued under section 62 of the Public Health Act
  • examples of orders are:
    • Closed for Tenant Accommodation-Order to Vacate
    • Unfit for Human Habitation-Order to Vacate
    • Closure Order
    • Work Order
• a decision to issue or to cancel, suspend or refuse to issue a licence, permit or other approval provided for in the regulations under the Public Health Act
• any other decision in respect of which an appeal to the PHAB is permitted under the regulations

Who can appeal

A person who is directly affected by a decision noted above, and who considers themself to have been aggrieved may make an appeal. The person who appeals a decision is referred to as the appellant.

• See section 5(2), Public Health Act

How to appeal

Timing to begin an appeal

The Notice of Appeal must be received by the PHAB within 10 days after receiving notice of the decision that is being appealed. The PHAB may extend the 10-day appeal period if it considers it appropriate to do so.

• Read sections 5(3) and (9), Public Health Act

Submit a Notice of Appeal form

Fill in, date and sign a Notice of Appeal form and send it to the PHAB by email, fax, mail or hand delivered.

• Download the Notice of Appeal form
• See contact information below

Timing of the appeal hearing

The Public Health Act requires the PHAB to hear the appeal within 30 days after receiving the Notice of Appeal form. However, the PHAB may extend the time for hearing the appeal if it is considered appropriate to do so.

• Read sections 5(4) and (9), Public Health Act
• Read about the appeal hearing process

Location of hearing

Generally, the hearing will be held in the location of the property subject to the appeal or a location that is convenient and agreed by all parties. The PHAB may also choose to use teleconferencing or video conferencing technologies to conduct the hearing.

Stay applications

A stay suspends the enforcement of the order or decision that is being appealed until the PHAB hears and decides on the appeal. Simply appealing the decision or order does not act as a stay of the order being appealed. The order or decision continues to be in effect if no stay of the order is granted by the Chair or Vice Chair of the PHAB.

An appellant may apply for a stay prior to the appeal hearing. A stay hearing is generally held by way of a telephone conference call or written submissions prior to the appeal hearing.

An appellant may wish to contact Alberta Health Services prior to the stay hearing to determine if they will agree to a stay of the order prior to the stay hearing. The Chair or Vice Chair of the PHAB will decide whether to grant a stay after reviewing the submissions (verbal or written) from the appellant and Alberta Health Services which may include any agreement reached by the parties.

• Read section 6, Public Health Act

Prepare for the appeal

To prepare for the appeal:

• Decide what outcome you want with respect to the order or decision you are appealing. The PHAB can confirm, reverse or vary the decision. Read section 5(11) of the Public Health Act.
• Gather all the information that supports the decision you want the PHAB to make. The information could include documents, verbal evidence, objects, photographs, articles, previous cases, experts or technical information.
• Organize the information to make it as easy as possible for the PHAB to understand your position.
• Review sections in the Public Health Act and regulations that apply to your appeal and reference them in the appeal hearing.
• Organize any witnesses you want to have attend the hearing on your behalf.
• Ensure you have prepared your opening statement, closing statement/submissions, questions you may want to ask of any witnesses attending on your behalf, questions you may want to ask the executive officer or other witnesses giving evidence.

Legal representation

There are 2 main parties in an appeal:

• Appellant – the person who makes the appeal
• Respondent – the person who responds to the appeal

Typically Alberta Health Services, the respondent, will be represented by legal counsel at the hearing.

The appellant(s) may retain legal counsel at their own expense or have another person such as an advocate, friend or family member, assist them at the hearing.

Witnesses

Although not mandatory, Alberta Health Services and the appellant may have witnesses at the hearing. A witness typically provides information to the PHAB that assists in making an informed decision.

Each party is responsible for arranging the attendance of any witnesses they wish to provide evidence at the hearing.

Appeal hearing process

The PHAB will typically follow this procedure at the appeal hearing.

Opening

The Chair will:

• introduce the members of the PHAB (typically 3 to 5 members)
• have the parties introduce themselves and their witnesses or observers
• identify and confirm the decision being appealed
• ask the parties whether they have any objection to the constitution and jurisdiction of the PHAB to hear the appeal
• provide an overview of the hearing process

Opening statements

Each party may give an opening statement to the PHAB. The opening statement should briefly identify the items in the order or decision that are disputed and what decision they wish the PHAB to make with respect to those items.

Presentation of evidence

Each party is given an opportunity to present information to the PHAB that supports the position they are advancing. Generally, the appellant begins and provides:

• verbal evidence from the appellant and/or witnesses
• written evidence such as documents, case law, written submissions, photographs, etc.

It may be helpful to ask your witnesses questions when they are giving evidence to ensure they provide all the information you want the PHAB to hear.

The respondent and the PHAB members may ask questions of any person providing verbal evidence.

Closing summation

Each party summarizes the evidence provided to the PHAB and uses that evidence to support their position and persuade the PHAB to find in their favour – this is called a submission. It is helpful to restate the decision you want the PHAB to make in the appeal.

Closing the hearing

The Chair of the PHAB will close the hearing.

The PHAB’s decision

In most cases, the PHAB provides a written decision to both parties within 30 days of the hearing.

The PHAB can decide to confirm, reverse, or vary the order or decision being appealed. It also has the option to refer the case back to Alberta Health Services for further consideration. Read section 5(5) of the Public Health Act.

• Read past decisions of the PHAB.

Adjournments

An adjournment means that the hearing has been postponed to a future date. There may be instances where one party requests an adjournment of the hearing. In those instances, the PHAB will hear the request for an adjournment and the other party will have an opportunity to respond to the request as well. The PHAB will decide whether to grant the request for an adjournment. Requests for an adjournment must be in writing and forwarded to the PHAB.

Withdrawing an appeal

If the appellant no longer wishes to proceed with the appeal, it can be withdrawn at any time. The appellant should inform the PHAB Secretariat in writing as soon as it is decided to withdraw the appeal.

Appealing the PHAB’s decision

There is no appeal from a decision of the PHAB. If you are not satisfied with the hearing process or the decision of the PHAB, you may apply to the Court of King’s Bench for a judicial review of the decision. The time limit to apply for a judicial review is 6 months from the date of the PHAB’s decision.

As an appellant, you may file a complaint with the provincial Ombudsman if you believe the hearing process or decision was unfair.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

The personal information contained in these documents was collected and used pursuant to section 33(c) and section 39(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Section 33(c) provides that personal information may only be collected if that information relates directly to and is necessary for an operating program or activity of the PHAB.

Section 39(1)(a) provides that the PHAB may use personal information only for the purpose for which the information was collected or compiled for a use consistent with that purpose.

The collection and use of this information was necessary for the PHAB to process and hear appeals from citizens served with orders under the Public Health Act. Section 40(1)(bb) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act permits the PHAB to disclose personal information when the personal information is made available to the public.

Membership and governance

The PHAB consists of up to 5 members of the public appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to hear appeals.

Search the list of public agencies to find the PHAB's:

• mandate and roles
• code of conduct
• current membership

Annual reports

• Public Health Appeal Board Annual Reports: 2009 to current

Compensation disclosure

Public sector bodies are required to post online the names and compensation paid to all board members.

This is a requirement under the Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act. The postings are required by June 30 each year.

Download the compensation disclosure for the Public Health Appeal Board (disclosures for 2019 to 2023).

Contact

Connect with the PHAB:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-222-5186
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-422-0914
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Public Health Appeal Board
c/o Central Reception
Main floor, ATB Place North Tower
10025 Jasper Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 1S6