Three years after Sunova Implements Ltd. filed an appeal against CLAAS of America Inc., the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal struggled to find dates for a public hearing.
Lawyers said they estimated the hearing could take up to five days followed by written submissions which could take another month, then another hearing date to review those submissions and then a decision. They finally settled on dates in July and August.
The pre-hearing session did not get into the reasons for the appeal which was filed Sept. 1, 2022.
Tribunal chairman Glenn Walker, who is a veteran with the tribunal, said he has never seen it so busy.
The lawyers said they should be able to shorten the case by submitting an agreed statement of facts on a number of issues.
Walker said he wants to take care “because this is an important case”.
