b'MANDATORY CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCESToensureafair,expeditiousreviewprocess,thepresiding member will require that the parties have Tribunalreliesonimplementingandfollowingbesta joint hearing plan and a list of eligible witnesses to practices. A cornerstone of that practice is holding aensure that the case progresses expeditiously. In addi-mandatory case management conference (CMC) fortion, a joint hearing plan previously agreed upon by every case that involves an oral hearing.the parties helps establish a firm schedule, thereby This new practice, introduced over the last two fiscalensuring the least costly process possible.years,hascontributedtotheincreaseinthenum- However, in more complex cases, the experience has ber of notices of violation withdrawn or abandoned,been that multiple CMCs are required to resolve pre-waivers and settlement agreements. In fact, holding aliminary motions and to adhere to the number of hear-CMC encourages thorough preparation of arguments,ing days previously set by the member. For example, thuseliminatingclaimsthatarefrivolousorpoorlyfour cases in the past year involved a constitutional supported by the evidence. issue that required many CMCs to establish the pro-Heldbetweenthepresidingmember,theparties,cedure to be followed that included the submission of and their representatives, a CMC promotes effectivedetailed briefs identifying the arguments relevant to managementofthecase.Amongotherthings,thethe constitutional issues.CMCfamiliarizesthepartieswiththenatureoftheHolding a CMC is essential to achieve a fair, exped-administrativemonetarypenaltysystem,thelegalitiousprocessatthelowestpossiblecostforthe framework for the alleged violation, and the procedureparties. It is a vital tool for, among other things, main-to be followed during an oral hearing.tainingthepresidingmembersimpartialityand At the end of the CMC, the member usually issuesdiscouraging frivolous claims or the abuse of process.an order reflecting the results of the conference that outlines how the case will proceed. As a result, the presidingmembercanensurecontroloverhow thehearingproceeds.Throughthoseorders,the Results from the mandatory case management conferences2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020Mandatory case management conferences held 15 13 11Orders made 11 21 24Notices of violation withdrawn 5 10 4Requests for review abandoned 16 11 518 CANADA AGRICULTURAL REVIEW TRIBUNAL'