Guide to the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board
Please Note: This Guide is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice and representation. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs accepts no responsibility or liability for the outcome of any hearing in which any party relies on this Guide.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Handling Conflicts
- The Hearing Application
- Before the Hearing
- Hearing
- After the Hearing
- Conclusion
- Appendices
1. Introduction
1.a. Purpose
This Guide assists farmers, rural residents living close to farms, municipalities, and others in understanding the Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998, the functions of the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board, and the concept of “normal farm practice.” It explains how the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (“OMAFRA”) and the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board handle complaints about farm practices.
1.b. The Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998
Legislation to protect farmers from unreasonable nuisance complaints has been in effect since December 15, 1988, when the Food Production Protection Act (“FPPA”) came into force. Other policies designed to address nuisance concerns existed prior to 1988. The FPPA protected farmers from nuisance complaints arising from odour, noise, and dust. This protection proved inadequate, however, as land development pressures increased in agricultural areas.
The Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998 (“FFPPA” or the “Act”) replaced the FPPA. The Act protects and encourages the development and improvement of agricultural lands for the production of food, fibre, and other agricultural and horticultural products. According to the preamble of the legislation, the legislature was concerned that it was becoming increasingly difficult for farmers to effectively produce these commodities because of discomfort and inconveniences caused by farming operations to residents of adjacent lands. The Act was established to promote and protect agricultural uses and normal farm practices in agricultural areas in a way that balances the needs of the agricultural community with provincial health, safety, and environmental concerns.
There are two main themes in the FFPPA: Protection of farming operations from nuisance complaints and protection from restrictive municipal bylaws:
- Nuisance complaints: There are seven types of disturbances covered by the Act: odour, noise, dust, flies, smoke, light, and vibration. The Act protects agricultural operations (see Guide section 1.d.) from nuisance complaints arising from any of these disturbances, provided the disturbance is caused by a normal farm practice (see Guide section 1.e).
- Municipal bylaws: Under the Act, if a farmer or a person who has demonstrable plans to carry on an agricultural or a municipality is concerned that a municipal bylaw is restricting a normal farm practice that is carried on as part of an agricultural operation, they may apply to the NFPPB for an order that the bylaw would not apply at that location.
The Act does not give farmers the right to pollute the natural environment or to contravene the Environmental Protection Act, the Pesticides Act, the Health Protection and Promotion Act, or the Ontario Water Resources Act. The Act also states that a practice that is inconsistent with a regulation made under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 is not a normal farm practice.
1.c. Normal Farm Practices Protection Board
The Normal Farm Practices Protection Board (“NFPPB” or the “Board”) was established by the FFPPA to resolve disputes regarding agricultural operations and to determine what constitutes a normal farm practice. In performing that function, the Board seeks to achieve the stated goal of the legislature in balancing the needs of the agricultural community with provincial health, safety, and environmental concerns (FFPPA Preamble).
Figure 1. More and more people are deciding to live in rural areas.
The NFPPB consists of at least five members appointed by the minister. The minister also appoints the chair and vice-chair(s). NFPPB members serve for a maximum of ten years. Members include farmers from across the province engaged in many types of farming. The chair and vice-chair(s) are usually lawyers whose practices include agricultural issues. Hearings are conducted by panels of three members, headed by the chair or a vice-chair.
In the past, the Board tried to hold its hearings in the counties or regions where the cases originated. Post Covid, hearings are more likely to be virtual.
Decisions by the NFPPB must be consistent with any directives, guidelines or policy statements issued by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to agricultural operations or normal farm practices.
This Guide describes in detail how hearings are structured and explains hearing procedures to aid individuals who plan to participate in a hearing. Parties such as farmers or their neighbours may represent themselves at a hearing, however, people appearing before the Board are fully entitled to retain legal counsel to represent them, if they so choose.
1.d. Agricultural Operation
The FFPPA defines an agricultural operation as an agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural or silvicultural operation carried on in the expectation of gain or reward, including the following:
- Draining, irrigating, or cultivating land
- Growing, producing, or raising:
- Livestock, including poultry and ratites
- Fur-bearing animals
- Bees
- Cultured fish
- Deer and elk
- Game animals and birds
- Any additional animals, birds or fish prescribed by the minister
- The production of agricultural crops, greenhouse crops, maple syrup, mushrooms, nursery stock, tobacco, tree and turf grass, and any additional agricultural crops prescribed by the minister
- The production of eggs, cream, and milk
- The operation of agricultural machinery and equipment
- The application of fertilizers, soil conditioners and pesticides
- Ground and aerial spraying
- The storage, handling or use of organic wastes for farm purposes
- The processing by a farmer of the products produced primarily from the farmer’s agricultural operation
- Activities that are a necessary but ancillary part of an agricultural operation such as the movement of transport vehicles for the purposes of the agricultural operation
- Any other agricultural activity prescribed by the minister conducted on, in or over agricultural land.
1.e. Normal Farm Practice
The Act defines a normal farm practice as one that:
(1) is conducted in a manner consistent with proper and acceptable customs and standards, as established and followed by similar agricultural operations under similar circumstances, or
(2) makes use of innovative technology in a manner consistent with proper advanced farm management practices.
The Board is authorized by the legislation to determine what is or is not a normal farm practice. In arriving at a decision in each case, the Board takes several factors into consideration as it seeks to balance the needs of the agricultural community with provincial health, safety, and environmental concerns. This is especially relevant in cases involving municipal bylaws. In such cases, the Board is required to consider the purpose of the bylaw, the effect of the farm practice on adjoining lands and neighbours, and whether the bylaw reflects a provincial interest under any other piece of legislation or provincial policy statement.
Consequently, there is no definitive list of normal farm practices. A practice may be ruled as a normal farm practice at a particular location under a particular set of circumstances; the same practice could be ruled as not a normal farm practice at a different location under a different set of circumstances.
For example, consider a hearing about noise from equipment used to scare birds from vineyards. The NFPPB might decide that it was normal to use this equipment:
- In a location where few, if any, neighbours lived nearby, but not normal if there were many residences nearby;
- In a vineyard in the Region of Niagara, but not normal if used to scare coyotes from sheep pastures in Bruce County;
- With a method of operation using automatic shutoff switches, but not normal using manual shutoff switches;
- When bird presence was greatest during the early morning and late afternoon, but not normal during the middle of the day during hot weather when birds eat less frequently.
1.f. Board Jurisdiction
The NFPPB is authorized by the Act to rule on three types of cases: nuisance, bylaw and bylaw involving vehicular travel.
- Nuisance case: Complaint by a person directly affected by a disturbance from an agricultural operation. The disturbances covered include odour, noise, dust, flies, smoke, light, and vibration. The Board rules on whether the practice causing the disturbance is a normal farm practice. If it is, the agricultural operation can continue and is protected from further similar complaints. (see Guide section 7.a.)
- Bylaw case: Complaint by an agricultural operator that a municipal bylaw is restricting a farm practice related to the agricultural operation. The Board rules on whether the practice restricted by the application of the bylaw is a normal farm practice. If it is, the practice is exempt from the municipal bylaw. (see Guide section 7.a.)
- Bylaw – vehicular travel: Complaint by an agricultural operator that a municipal bylaw is restricting the times during which a vehicle, engaged in a farm practice, can travel to or from the agricultural operation. The Board rules on whether the farm practice requiring the vehicular travel is a normal farm practice. If it is, the operation of the vehicle is exempt from the municipal bylaw. It is important to note that the Board does not have the authority to order an injunction; however, orders of the Board may be filed with the Superior Court of Justice and be enforced as if they were court orders. (see Guide section 7.a.)
2. Handling Conflicts
2.a. What to Do When a Nuisance Conflict Arises
Nuisance conflicts are conflicts arising from any of the seven disturbances covered by the FFPPA (odour, noise, dust, flies, smoke, light, and vibration). When a person has reason to believe he or she is directly affected by any of these disturbances, he or she should first try resolving the matter by speaking with the farmer. Many complaints are resolved this way. If the complaint is not resolved, the neighbour or the farmer can seek assistance from the local Municipal Agricultural Advisory Committee (if the municipality has one), from the municipality, or directly from OMAFRA.
The Advisory Committee or the municipality may try to resolve the issue. If this is unsuccessful, the Advisory Committee, the municipality or the people involved may refer the issue to OMAFRA.
Figure 2. Residents living adjacent to farms should expect occasional nuisances such as odour and noise.
OMAFRA can be reached by calling the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300, or by contacting the regional OMAFRA agricultural engineer directly. In either case, the agricultural engineer will, if necessary, speak with both parties (the people involved on both sides of the issue), either separately or together, and try to resolve the complaint through OMAFRA’s Farm Practices Conflict Resolution Process. The goal of the conflict resolution process is to resolve the conflict without recourse to a hearing. Where necessary, the agricultural engineer may call upon other experts with knowledge of agricultural issues. This process has proven to be very successful in resolving conflicts about nuisances.
Only after the conflict resolution process has been tried, and has failed to resolve the dispute, will a case be considered for a hearing by the NFPPB.
2.b. What to Do When a Bylaw Conflict Arises
Farmers or municipalities involved in bylaw conflicts should call OMAFRA’s Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300, and OMAFRA’s Farm Practices Conflict Resolution Process will be initiated. The agricultural engineer may consult with the regional OMAFRA planner. If the Board appears to have jurisdiction, the agricultural engineer will proceed with the conflict resolution process. If the process is unsuccessful, the case may then proceed to the NFPPB for a hearing.
A bylaw case will not be considered for a hearing by the Board unless the conflict resolution process has been applied and has failed to produce a result that is acceptable to both parties.
3. The Hearing Application
Note: The person making the application is called the applicant. The person against whom the application is directed is called the respondent. The applicant and respondent are the parties to the proceeding.
3.a. Applying for a Hearing
If the conflict is not resolved through the conflict resolution process, the applicant may make a formal application to the NFPPB for a hearing. Before the NFPPB will consider the application, it must first receive a report from the OMAFRA agricultural engineer indicating that the process has been applied, and that it has failed. In special circumstances, the process may be waived by the chair.
The application must be made by filling out and submitting an NFPPB Hearing Application Form, shown in Appendix A. A copy of the form may be obtained from the agricultural engineer or downloaded from the NFPPB website. The form should be mailed, faxed, emailed, or delivered to:
The Secretary
Normal Farm Practices Protection Board
1 Stone Road West, 2nd Floor
Guelph, Ontario N1G 4Y2
Phone: 519-826-3433
Fax: 519-826-4232
E-mail: NFPPB@ontario.ca
3.b. How the Application is Processed
On receipt of the application, the Board secretary checks it for completeness and contacts the OMAFRA agricultural engineer for a report if one has not been received. If the application is incomplete, the secretary writes the applicant requesting the missing information.
All correspondence from the Board to the applicant and respondent is done by courier or email for rapid and secure delivery.
When the complete application is received, the secretary sends a letter of acknowledgement to the applicant and a letter to the respondent notifying him or her of the complaint.
The secretary forwards the completed application, along with the report of the agricultural engineer, to the chair. The chair verifies from the agricultural engineer’s report that the conflict resolution process has been applied to the case. Then the chair evaluates the information provided in the application and in the engineer’s report. This assists the chair in establishing whether the case falls within the jurisdiction of the NFPPB, whether the application may be deemed to be frivolous or otherwise unjustified under section 8(1) of the FFPPA, and any other relevant factors. Based on this evaluation, the chair decides whether to approve the application for the hearing and notifies the secretary in writing of the decision.
The secretary then informs the applicant and the respondent in writing of the board’s decision concerning the application.
If it appears that the application relates to matters outside of the jurisdiction of the Board, or if section 8(1) applies, the applicant and respondent are sent a notice that the board intends to dismiss the application. The notice includes the board’s reasons. This procedure is required by section 4.6 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act (SPPA). The notice also informs the applicant that he or she may respond to the board in writing within a specified time. The board can finalize a decision to refuse an application only after it has notified the applicant and considered the applicant’s response if received within the time specified. In some cases, the respondent will also be provided with an opportunity to make a submission.
If the matter is proceeding, the respondent is provided with a copy of the applicant’s application, including a copy of any supporting documents submitted to the board as part of the application. This is to enable the respondent to prepare a response for presentation at the hearing.
4. Before the Hearing
4.a. Parties
As mentioned earlier, the applicant is a party to the hearing, and so is the respondent. There may be one or more applicants and one or more respondents. If the agricultural operation is incorporated, it must also be identified as a respondent (or applicant) in the proceeding. This applies to any incorporated business (such as a trucking or other company) that is involved in a case before the Board.
Separate hearing applications can be considered to be related either because they involve similar complaints against the same respondent, or because they are very similar in law or circumstances. The Board can combine the separate applications into one hearing, if the parties agree.
Sometimes there is one or more third parties at NFPPB hearings. This is usually the municipality in a nuisance case, because of involvement or strong interest in a nuisance issue.
Other people who may be directly affected by the Board’s decision may also apply to the Board to be recognized as parties.
A party has the right to be represented by counsel, to cross-examine witnesses called by the other parties, and to present evidence. The public may also participate in a Board proceeding by making written submissions or giving public testimony.
4.b. Hearings in French
The Board may conduct the hearing, or any part of the hearing, in French. In such a case, the Notice of Hearing (see Guide section 4.i.) will indicate that both French and English can be used at the hearing. Participants wishing to communicate in a language other than English should contact the secretary in advance of the hearing.
4.c. Representation at the Hearing
Parties sometimes choose legal representation because of many factors involving their case, such as the level of difficulty of the case, high financial stakes, the complexity of the legal issues, their own level of confidence, personal considerations, and a wide range of other concerns.
As soon as a party retains legal counsel, the secretary should be notified. From then on, all correspondence between that party and the Board and other parties will be through the legal counsel.
If there is more than one applicant, and the proceedings have been combined, they must appoint one person as their representative to make their presentations to the Board unless otherwise directed. Similarly, if there is more than one respondent, they must appoint one person as their representative to make their presentations to the Board unless otherwise directed.
Except during a hearing or pre-hearing conference (see Guide section 4.e.), all correspondence and other communication between any party and the Board must be through the Board secretary. Written correspondence must be copied to the other parties. This procedure insures against a possible perception of bias and ensures that all parties are included in correspondence regarding an application.
4.d. Hearing Costs
The NFPPB does not charge participants for hearings. The NFPPB holds hearings in the municipality where the complaint arose if possible, in order to eliminate or minimize travel and hotel costs to participants, or the Board may order that the hearing be held electronically. Parties are entitled to legal representation if they so choose; that, of course, would be at their own expense.
4.e. Pre-Hearing and Settlement Conference
The chair may order that pre-hearing and/or settlement conferences be held prior to the actual hearing. The pre-hearing conference is a formal meeting between the chair-appointed board member (pre-hearing chair) and the representatives of each party, to clarify issues and establish procedural matters for the hearing. All of the parties or their representatives should be present. No witnesses attend, because evidence (information relevant to the case) is not presented. The Board may order that a pre-hearing or settlement conference be held electronically.
Typical matters discussed would be:
- Establishing who are the applicants and respondents, including any businesses or incorporated entities
- Identifying the issues to be addressed at the hearing
- Establishing how many witnesses (see Guide section 4.m.) will be called by each party
- Identifying any expert witnesses (see Guide section 4.n.) either party may intend to call
- Clarifying what documents should be exchanged between the parties, and establishing a timetable for these exchanges (disclosure)
- Establishing the date(s) and duration of the hearing.
The pre-hearing conference is generally held in the municipality where the matter arose or electronically by way of video or telephone conference.
Notice of pre-hearing conferences must be issued to all parties by the Board secretary at least seven days before the pre-hearing, unless the Board decides otherwise.
Within four weeks of the pre-hearing conference, the pre-hearing chair issues an order of the board (pre-hearing order), setting out his or her decisions on the matters discussed. This is a formal order of the Board, with the same weight as a Board decision (see Guide section 7), and it must be obeyed by both parties. If a party has difficulty fulfilling any requirement in the order, the party must submit a written request to the Board (through the secretary), as soon as the problem arises, to explain the problem and seek to have the requirement changed. The pre-hearing chair may or may not grant the request. Note that the panel of the Board presiding over the hearing of the application may vary a pre-hearing order in an appropriate case.
A settlement conference is generally held after the completion of the pre-hearing conference and its purpose is to provide an opportunity for the presiding pre-hearing chair to bring both parties together with a view to coming to a resolution and thus avoiding a full hearing. Any settlement minutes reached by the parties will not form the basis of an order from the Board.
The chair-appointed Board member who conducts the settlement conference will not participate in the full hearing, unless all parties consent.
4.f. Motions
A “motion” is an application made in writing to the Board, by a party, seeking an interim board decision on a matter related to the hearing. Motions are sometimes made to ask the Board to stop the hearing on grounds of a lack of jurisdiction (see Guide section 1.f.). Motions are also made for other matters, such as asking the Board to order the other party to take a particular action. The notice of motion is filed with the board and served on the other party (or parties). A standard form for motions is shown in Appendix C. Oral motions may also be made to the presiding panel during a hearing but prior notice of the motion should be given to the other party, if possible.
Figure 3. Farmers do their best to site their barns away from residential properties to minimize complaints about odour and noise.
A motion is usually heard by the NFPPB chair, vice-chair, or a chair-appointed board member (motion chair) and is generally attended by the representatives and one or more of the parties. In some cases, a panel of three Board members hear a motion. Oral motions made at the hearing and some motions made on notice are decided by the presiding panel. The motion hearing deals with only the matter raised in the motion. The party making the motion (moving party) presents its case to the motion chair or panel, including any evidence (relevant information; see Guide section 4.t.) that may be relevant. Some motions can be determined entirely in writing or be heard electronically.
Evidence may not be required in a motion on the Board’s jurisdiction; in such a case the party would simply have to present arguments (see Guide section 5.e.), including any former court or NFPPB rulings, to support its position. Evidence may be required, though, for some challenges to the Board’s jurisdiction or if the party is requesting that the Board order the other party to take a particular action, such as providing certain documents. Evidence is usually presented by way of affidavit (sworn statement) unless otherwise allowed by the Board.
After the presentation of the moving party (who may be either the applicant or the respondent), the responding party presents its evidence and/or arguments to refute those of the moving party.
Notice of the motion must be issued to all parties by the party making the motion, at least seven days before the motion is heard, unless the Board decides otherwise. The moving party should obtain a date for hearing the motion from the Board secretary. The Board may provide further directions regarding the motion.
The notice must include:
- The names of the parties
- The statutory authority under which the motion is brought (FFPPA)
- The time, date, and place where the motion will be heard, if the motion is to be heard orally
- The purpose of the motion
- The grounds for the motion
- A list of the documents that will be used in presenting the motion
- A copy of all supporting materials
- An indication of any oral evidence to be presented, if applicable
- The ruling requested of the Board
- A statement that if the party does not participate, the motion will proceed and the party will not be entitled to any further notice of the proceeding.
For additional requirements on notices of motion, please consult Rules 18 to 23 of the Board’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. For more information on the Rules, including availability, see section 4.l. of this Guide
Sometime after the motion hearing, the motion chair or the panel issues an order of the Board, setting out his or her decisions on the motion. This is a formal order of the Board, with the same weight as a board decision (see Guide section 7). Orders regarding motions made at the hearing may be included in the Board’s decision.
4.g. Scheduling of Hearing
If a pre-hearing (see Guide section 4.e.) is held, the pre-hearing order may specify the date(s) of the full hearing. If not, the hearing date is established by the Board chair or a vice-chair in consultation with the Board secretary. The NFPPB Rules (see Guide section 4.l.) require that the official notice of hearing must be issued to parties at least 21 days before the hearing commences, except by order of the Board. Subject to this condition, the Board is authorized to establish the date(s) of the hearing and the parties are required to be there. Under the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, if a party fails to attend a hearing after due notice, the hearing may proceed and the party would not be entitled to any further notice of the proceedings. The NFPPB attempts to accommodate time constraints of all parties when scheduling a hearing. If, however, this process is causing what the Board considers to be unreasonable delays, the Board may establish the date(s) for the hearing and the parties will be required to attend on those dates.
The duration of a hearing depends on the complexity of the case and the number of witnesses involved. The pre-hearing chair consults with all parties in estimating the amount of time to be scheduled for a hearing.
4.h. Hearing Location
As stated in section 4.d., the NFPPB holds hearings in the municipality where the complaint arose, to eliminate or minimize travel and hotel costs to participants. In order to keep its own costs to a minimum, the NFPPB is required to hold hearings in locations that are provided free to the Board. Consequently, hearings are generally held in municipal chambers, because municipal governments graciously allow provincial government Boards to use their facilities free of charge. The Board may order that the hearing be held electronically.
4.i. Notice of Hearing
As stated in section 4.g., the NFPPB Rules (see Guide section 4.l.) require that the notice of hearing be issued to parties at least 21 days before the hearing commences, except by order of the Board. The basic content of the notice is specified in the Statutory Powers Procedure Act. Among other things, the notice shows the date, time and place of the hearing, the purpose of the hearing, and a warning that if the party does not attend, the hearing may proceed and the party would not be entitled to any further notice of the proceedings.
The notice of hearing is sent by courier or email for rapid and secure delivery.
The Board will issue notices of hearing to the parties through their representatives. In addition, in bylaw cases (see Guide section 1.f.), notice of a hearing is to be given to every owner of land that is within 120 metres of the area in the same municipality in which the farm practice in question is occurring. Landowners who are entitled to notice, but who are not parties to the hearing, can be notified through publication of the notice of hearing in a newspaper that serves the area instead of being sent the notice directly.
4.j. Public Access to Hearings
Except as stated below, NFPPB hearings are open to the public, including the press. Members of the public do not normally attend pre-hearing conferences and motion hearings, but they are entitled to do so, if they wish. The Board secretary generally seeks from the parties an indication of the number of people expected to attend the hearing, in order to ensure that the hearing location is adequate.
Hearings are held in municipal chambers and other locations that are wheelchair-accessible. Participants with other accessibility requirements should contact the secretary in advance of the hearing if accommodation is required.
Section 9 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act authorizes the Board to hold hearings in private, if the Board is convinced that a public hearing would be very harmful to a person or to the public interest, because of the disclosure of intimate financial, personal, or other matters.
4.k. Rules of Procedure
Sections 17 and 25.1 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act and section 3 of the Tribunal Adjudicative Records Act, 2019 authorizes the Board to establish rules of practice and procedure to govern its proceedings (hearings, pre-hearing conferences, motions, and related matters). Many of these rules have been mentioned into this Guide. The official version of the rules of practice and procedure can be obtained by calling the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300, by email at ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca, or from the NFPPB website.
4.l. Witnesses
Parties generally call witnesses to provide evidence at the hearing in support of the party’s position. The action of the witness in delivering the evidence is called “testifying.” The information given by the witness is the witness’s “testimony”.
Every party is required to submit a list of its witnesses to the Board at least two weeks before the hearing, unless otherwise directed by the Board. If there is a pre-hearing conference, the deadline for submitting the witness lists may be included in the pre-hearing order. At the beginning of the hearing, a party may seek the Board’s permission to add additional witnesses if necessary.
Witnesses may give only “factual” evidence, not “opinion” evidence. A witness can say what he or she sees or hears or feels but not his or her opinion about it. Opinions can be given only by “expert witnesses.”
4.m. Expert Witnesses
Expert witnesses are witnesses with recognized technical or special knowledge of an issue. In addition to giving the facts, an expert witness may give technical opinions about the issue, based on his or her qualifications. For example, a party may call an expert witness to give an opinion about whether a hog barn is being properly managed, or whether loud music is an effective way of protecting vineyards from birds. The witness must first be recognized by the Board as an expert. To achieve this, the party presenting the witness must present a curriculum vitae (CV) showing the witness’s qualifications and experience related to the issue before the Board. Each opposing party has the right to object at the hearing, and to question the witness’ qualifications and/or experience related to the issue. The Board then decides whether to recognize the witness as an expert witness.
If a pre-hearing conference is held, the order may establish a deadline for submitting the CVs of expert witnesses. Otherwise the CVs should be sent to the Board secretary at least two weeks before the hearing.
A party may seek to summons a government expert witness; however, government employees cannot assist one side of a dispute at the expense of another and, because of this, are limited in how they may assist with case preparation. An expert under summons may be prevented from gathering enough information to form an opinion and may provide testimony not favourable to the party who summonsed them.
4.n. Board Witness
Sometimes the Board itself may call one or more expert witness(es) to give evidence at the hearing. It must be emphasized that the Board cannot take sides in the case. The purpose of the Board witness is to provide only technical or other expert information that the Board deems important in helping it understand the issues in the case, and that the parties could not reasonably be expected to call or failed to call. The Board cannot provide expert witnesses for any party. Board witnesses are independent of all parties and the Board, and they can be questioned by the parties and the Board.
4.o. Witness Statements
A witness statement is a written statement of the information (and opinions, if expert witness) that the witness will give as evidence at the hearing. Either on its own, or at the request of a party, the Board may order that witness statements be served on the opposing party by a certain deadline. The witness statement must include the date of the statement, the name and address of the witness, the CV if he or she is an expert witness, a full but concise statement of the evidence to be given, and identification of exhibits (documents, plans, reports, etc.) the witness plans to use at the hearing.
4.p. Swearing in of Witnesses
As in court, witnesses are required to speak the truth at hearings. To that end, the NFPPB requires that evidence be given under oath or affirmation. Before giving evidence before the NFPPB, every witness has to swear (take an oath) or affirm (state solemnly) that he or she will speak the truth. People who do not want to swear an oath must make a prescribed affirmation. A witness who refuses to take an oath or make an affirmation can be subject to contempt of court proceedings under section 13 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act.
A person who lies under oath or affirmation is committing a criminal act and can be subject to prosecution under the Criminal Code of Canada.
4.q. Summonses
At the request of a party, the Board can issue a summons to a witness. The summons is an order from the Board for the person named to attend the hearing on the day(s) specified, to bring along any documents or other items requested, and to give evidence under oath or affirmation. The person must be “served” personally with the summons, meaning that the summons must be delivered personally to him or her. Under section 12 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, if the person served with the summons does not attend the hearing and testify as ordered in the summons, a Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice may issue a “bench warrant” to have the person arrested, brought to the hearing, and detained in custody until the person testifies as ordered in the summons.
A summons is used to ensure that an important witness attends the hearing. It is also used to help witnesses get time off from work to attend the hearing.
The person who is summoned must be paid the same fees and allowances paid to a person summoned by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. These fees and allowances are set by the Court and can be obtained by contacting the Court. Civil servants who are to appear as witnesses must be summoned, but they are not paid fees and allowances.
4.r. Documents Required for the Hearing
Each party should bring to the hearing all documents, plans, maps, and other items that are important to its case. While presenting its evidence, the party introduces individual documents and other items it wants the Board to consider. As each item is presented, it is entered by the Board as an exhibit and assigned an exhibit number. The exhibits are kept by the Board.
For hearings involving two parties, each party should bring six copies of every document that is to be presented to the Board. For cases involving three parties, seven copies are needed, etc.
Please note that documents sent to the Board with the hearing application or otherwise will not be considered as evidence by the Board during the hearing. Only documents presented by the parties at the hearing itself will be considered as evidence.
4.s. Evidence – Quality
“Evidence” is anything that tends to establish or prove something is true. It includes the oral testimony of witnesses, documents, physical items, or anything else that a party considers important to its case. Not all evidence is allowable at hearings, and not all evidence is treated the same by the Board. Here are some important considerations:
- Relevance: The evidence must be “relevant”; that is, it must apply to the case. If an opposing party believes that the evidence being presented is not relevant, the opposing party can raise an objection to the Board, and the presenting party must convince the Board that the evidence is relevant.
- Hearsay: Hearsay evidence is evidence from someone who is not present at the hearing to give evidence in person. For example, suppose Mr. B is not at the hearing, but Mr. A testifies that Mr. B smelled manure on a certain day. Since Mr. B is not there to say what he smelled and when he smelled it, Mr. A’s testimony is “hearsay” evidence and does not carry much weight, if it is allowed (see below). If Mr. B’s evidence is important to the party’s case, the party must ensure that Mr. B attends the hearing to give his evidence himself.
- Weight: The Board may allow a wide range of evidence at the hearing, but not all of it will be given the same degree of importance or weight. For example, the Board may allow hearsay evidence, but it will not be given much weight. The same would apply to a report or document prepared by a person who is not at the hearing. The opposing party cannot cross-examine the person to test the information in the document. Therefore, the evidence in the document would not carry much weight at the hearing and it may not be considered when the Board is reaching its decision. This does not mean that the Board thinks the person who wrote the report is not telling the truth.Official or public documents that are widely recognized, such as government and industry standards, are accepted without the need for cross-examination. The weight given to the document will depend on the source of the document. In determining weight to be assigned, the Board usually consults both parties at the hearing.
Information downloaded by a party from the internet generally does not carry much weight, unless the author of the document and the document itself are well recognized. Depending on the document, the Board may consult both parties before assigning weight.
- Opinion: The evidence provided by witnesses must be factual, not “opinion” evidence. Only expert witnesses (see Guide section 4.n) are allowed to give opinions, and then only in the areas in which they have been qualified as expert.
- Credibility: The Board has the authority to adjust the weight given to a witness’s testimony based on the credibility (believability) of the person. The witness’s behaviour or the manner in which the witness testifies could raise doubt in the minds of the Board members as to the reliability of the witness’s testimony. Credibility could also be affected if the witness’s testimony does not seem reasonable, does not make sense, or appears to be exaggerating or contradictory.
4.t. Evidence – Onus
“Onus” refers to the responsibility of proving the issue before the Board. Generally, the applicant has the onus of proving his or her complaint to the Board. For example, an applicant complaining about noise from a farming operation must produce evidence to establish that someone is conducting an agricultural operation at a particular location, that the operation produces noise, and that the level or amount or timing of the noise is such that it meets the threshold test set out in the Board’s previous decisions. Board decisions are found at CanLII.org. If the applicant is unable to do that, the respondent may argue that the applicant has not established his or her case and request dismissal of the case. If the Board agrees, the case can be dismissed even without considering the respondent’s evidence. Of course, the respondent should not depend on this happening. If the applicant meets his or her onus, the onus then shifts to the respondent to prove that the activity is a normal farm practice.
4.u. Evidence – Standard of Proof
“Standard of Proof” refers to the level of convincing needed to prove a case to the Board. Administrative tribunals like the NFPPB use the standard of the balance of probabilities, which refers to considering whether it is more probable that something is the fact than it is not. Put another way, this means that the Board weighs all the evidence both for and against, considers the applicable law and the arguments of the parties, and decides according to the stronger case.
4.v. Hearing Transcripts
The Board may provide a certified court reporter for the hearing of an application. The Board may also make an audio recording of the hearing to assist the panel in supplementing its notes. This recording is not available to the public.
The parties may obtain transcripts of the hearing from the certified court reporter at their own expense in accordance with Rule 39.
5. Hearing
5.a. Public Conduct during a Hearing
Members of the public attending a hearing are expected to do so in a manner respectful of the hearing. The Board is authorized by the Statutory Powers Procedure Act to give directions and orders to maintain order, and to have these directions and orders enforced by the police.
5.b. Access to the Board
While the hearing is in session, the party representatives may address the Board as appropriate. During breaks and other times when the hearing is not in session, all communication between parties and the Board must be through the Board secretary. Other than polite small talk, Board members are not allowed to have any discussions or to socialize with any parties or other people at the hearing. This is to avoid the possibility of any situation that could be perceived as potential bias (see Guide section 5.c) of Board members toward or against any party.
5.c. Procedural Fairness and Bias
As any other administrative Board or court in the justice system, the NFPPB must not only be impartial in the treatment of all who appear before it but also be seen to be impartial. An adjudicative procedure that is fair to all parties must be used. Therefore, any action or situation that may call the impartiality of the Board into question or that gives a party an undue advantage must be avoided. That is why all correspondence between the Board and any party is shared with all parties. That is also why all correspondence between parties and the Board must be through the Board secretary, and not directly with the Board members.
The Board must be free from a reasonable apprehension of bias. There is a reasonable apprehension of bias when one party justifiably feels that the Board, or any member of the Board panel, favours the other party. To avoid perception of bias, Board members have to avoid contact or communication with parties or their supporters. During hearing sessions, Board members have to be unbiased in their questioning of witnesses. In all its aspects, the hearing must be conducted in such a manner that treats all parties uniformly. If at any time during a hearing a party feels that there is a perception of bias issue, the matter should be raised immediately with the panel.
Another example of a situation that can give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias would be a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest could arise if any member of the Board panel is involved in business transactions or a personal relationship with any of the parties or witnesses appearing before the Board panel. There could be a perception that the Board member may not be fair toward all parties. If a party feels that any of the panel members may be in a conflict of interest, the matter should be raised at the beginning of the hearing, or as soon as the circumstances giving rise to the apprehension of bias are known.
5.d. Layout of the Hearing Room
Board hearings which are held in person are usually held in municipal council chambers, but they can sometimes be held in community halls. In either case, the layout follows a standard pattern. The Board, consisting of a panel of three members, sits at a table or desk facing the audience. Facing the Board are two tables, one for each party (three tables if there are three parties). Normally, two people, the representative and one other person from the group of applicants or respondents, sit at the tables. If there are other applicants or respondents, they sit directly behind the applicant’s or the respondent’s tables in the audience section. Off to one side, between the Board and the parties, is a small table at which the witness sits to testify. This is the witness stand. The audience (supporters of the parties, witnesses, members of the public, press agents if any) sit in chairs behind the parties. There is usually a separate room to which the Board panel retreats when the hearing is not in session.
Figure 4. At certain times of the year, exhaust fans in barns may produce increased noise levels.
5.e. Hearing Procedure
During a hearing, each party tries to convince the Board to accept the party’s position and rule in favour of the party. To accomplish this, the party has to perform two functions:
- Present evidence that supports the party’s position and challenge the evidence (cross-examination, see Guide section 5.j.3) of the opposing party.
- Use the evidence presented, and applicable law, to develop and present arguments to convince the Board to rule in favour of the party.
These two functions are separate and distinct, and the hearing is structured to deal with them separately. The first phase of the hearing deals only with the presentation and challenging of evidence. This is the evidentiary phase of the hearing. No argument is allowed in this phase.
The second phase deals only with argument. This is the argument phase. No evidence is accepted in the argument phase.
The Board may order parties to present argument in written form, as well as, or instead of, oral presentation. When written arguments are presented, parties will be given adequate opportunity to respond.
Before the evidentiary phase and the argument phase, there will be an introduction and there may be a site visit by the Board. These are described below.
5.f. Introduction
As a sign of respect and in the interests of order, everyone is asked to stand when the Board panel enters the hearing room except when the hearing is held virtually.
The chair identifies the Board, the Act under which the Board operates, and the panel members. The panel chair briefly explains the purpose and function of the Board.
Next, the panel chair calls on the parties to identify themselves; first, all the applicants, including legal entities and corporations, and asks whether they are represented by legal counsel. If not, he or she inquires who will act as the party representative. Next, the respondent is similarly identified, followed by the third party if there is one, etc.
The panel chair then asks if there are any others who seek standing as parties, or any other persons who wish to make a presentation to the Board. There may be people who simply wish to make a presentation to the Board without the responsibilities of being a party, and without being a witness for any of the parties. This is the time for them to seek permission from the Board so that they can do so at a time appointed by the Board. Making a written statement under Rule 53 is also an option for those wishing to make their views known to the Board.
The panel chair then briefly explains the hearing process. This may not be necessary if all parties are represented by legal counsel.
5.g. Optional Site Visit
In most instances where the hearing is in person, the Board does a site visit to get a better appreciation of the issues before it. The Board has found this to be helpful in many cases, especially those involving nuisances. Since the hearings are held in the areas where the complaints originate, the Board normally does not have to travel far to reach the site.
The site visit is normally done with the accompaniment of the representatives and/or any the parties who wish to attend. The visit includes the location of the farm practice in question, the locations of the homes of the applicants, if appropriate, and other locations important to the case. The whole trip normally takes between one and two hours. The visit is not used to gather evidence, but only to help the Board understand the evidence presented at the hearing. The Board members get a better perspective of distances, noise levels, odours, wind direction, trees, buildings and other physical barriers, and other similar issues included in the evidence.
5.h. Evidentiary Phase
5.h.1 Opening Statements
Note: It was pointed out in section 4.a. that there may be several applicants and several respondents. Section 4.c. explained that if the group of applicants or respondents does not have legal counsel, the group must appoint one person as its representative. For simplicity in the following sections, the applicants’ representative (whether legal or not) will be referred to as the applicant, the respondents’ representative as the respondent, and the third party’s representative as the third party.
The evidentiary phase begins with an opening statement from the applicant, followed by the respondent and the third party (if any). This is a brief statement describing the issues the party will address, and outlining the evidence the party will present, the list of witnesses, the topics to be covered, and an estimate of the amount of time required.
5.h.2 Exclusion of Witnesses
During a hearing, a party may request an order from the Board that particular witnesses be excluded from the hearing until they have given their testimony. This is to ensure that the witnesses’ testimony is not influenced by the testimony of other witnesses. Those witnesses who are parties or who will be tendered as expert witnesses are not subject to an order excluding witnesses.
Figure 5. Farmers understand the benefits of renewable energy. Anaerobic digesters are able to convert manure into methane, then into electricity for use on the farm or for sale to others.
5.h.3 Presentation of Applicant’s Case
The applicant begins the presentation of his or her evidence. This is done through witnesses. The applicant calls each witness in turn to the witness stand for the testifying procedure described below. The applicant decides the order in which he or she wants to call his or her witnesses, including expert witnesses. All evidence to be presented to the Board must be presented through witnesses on the witness stand. If the applicant is representing himself, and wants to testify, then he must go on the witness stand to present his evidence.
Each witness goes through the following procedure:
- Swearing-in: The witness must take an oath or make an affirmation (see Guide section 4.q), administered by a member of the Board panel.
- Examination-in-chief: The applicant asks the witness questions to bring out the evidence desired. In dealing with issues disputed by the respondent, the applicant is not allowed to use “leading” questions; that is, questions that suggest the answer desired. For example, the witness should not be asked: “Wasn’t that sound driving you crazy?” That is considered a leading question. A more acceptable type of question would be: “Did the sound affect you?” Answer: “Yes, it did.” Question: “How?” Answer: “It almost drove me crazy.” In cases where a self-represented applicant wishes to give testimony, their testimony is given in a presentation format. The following procedure still applies, with necessary modifications.
- Cross-examination: The respondent asks the witness questions to bring out any inconsistencies or weaknesses in the evidence or to raise new information favourable to the respondent. The respondent is not allowed to use repetitive questions simply to try to get the answer he or she wants. When the respondent is finished, the third party (if present) will cross-examine the witness.
- Redirect: The applicant can ask the witness questions related specifically to issues raised in the cross-examination. This is to counter any concerns that the respondent or third party may have raised. Redirect must be limited and brief.
- Board questions: The Board panel members ask the witness questions to clarify issues raised in the evidence.
- Response questions – Applicant: The applicant can ask the witness questions to respond only to issues raised by the Board’s questions.
- Response questions – Respondent: The respondent can ask the witness questions to respond only to issues raised by the Board’s questions.
- Response questions – Third party: The third party can ask the witness questions to respond only to issues raised by the Board’s questions.
5.h.4 Presentation of Respondent’s Case
- When the applicant has finished presenting his or her witnesses, it is the respondent’s turn. The process is the same:
- Swearing-in: The witness must take an oath or make an affirmation (see Guide section 4.q), administered by a member of the Board panel.
- Examination-in-chief: The respondent asks the witness questions to bring out the evidence desired. As before, leading questions are not allowed. In cases where a self-represented respondent wishes to give testimony, their testimony is given in a presentation format. The following procedure still applies, with necessary modifications.
- Cross-examination: The applicant asks the witness questions to bring out any inconsistencies or weaknesses in the evidence or to raise new information favourable to the applicant. The applicant is not allowed to use repetitive questions simply to try to get the answer he or she wants. When the applicant is finished, the third party (if present) will cross-examine the witness.
- Redirect: The respondent can ask the witness questions related specifically to issues raised in the cross-examination. This is to counter any concerns that the applicant may have raised. Redirect must be limited and brief.
- Board questions: The Board panel members ask the witness questions to clarify issues raised in the evidence.
- Response questions – Respondent: The respondent can ask the witness questions to respond only to issues raised by the Board’s questions.
- Response questions – Applicant: The applicant can ask the witness questions to respond only to issues raised by the Board’s questions.
- Response questions – Third party: The third party can ask the witness questions to respond only to issues raised by the Board’s questions.
5.h.5 Presentation of Third-Party’s Case
If there is a third party, it will present its case at this time, following the same format as the respondent. Cross-examination of third-party witnesses is done by the applicant first, followed by the respondent.
5.h.6 Board Witnesses
If the Board has its own expert witness, he or she will be called at this stage of the hearing. The procedure for Board witnesses follows:
- Swearing-in: The witness must take an oath or make an affirmation (see Guide section 4.q), administered by a member of the Board panel.
- Board questions: The Board panel members ask the witness questions.
- Response questions – Applicant: The applicant can ask the witness questions to respond to issues raised by the Board’s questions.
- Response questions – Respondent: The respondent can ask the witness questions to respond to issues raised by the Board’s questions.
- Response questions – Third party: The third party can ask the witness questions to respond to issues raised by the Board’s questions.
- Response questions – Board: The Board panel members ask the witness questions to clarify issues raised in the evidence.
5.i Argument Phase
5.i.1 Argument by Applicant
As explained earlier, this is the phase of the hearing in which the applicant uses the evidence that has been presented to develop arguments to convince the Board to rule in his or her favour. The applicant can refer to applicable law and to precedents (former decisions of the board or the courts). However, the applicant cannot bring in, or refer to, any new evidence that has not been presented in the evidentiary phase of the hearing.
The argument should include suggestions to the Board about how it should rule.
5.i.2 Argument by Respondent
The respondent uses the evidence that has been presented to develop arguments to convince the Board to rule in his or her favour. The respondent can refer to applicable law and to precedents (former decisions of the Board or the courts). However, the respondent cannot bring in, or refer to, any new evidence that has not been presented in the evidentiary phase of the hearing.
The argument should include suggestions to the Board about how it should rule.
5.i.3 Argument by Third Party
The third party uses the evidence that has been presented to develop arguments to convince the Board to rule in his or her favour, or according to his or her suggestions. The third party can refer to applicable law and to precedents (former decisions of the Board or the courts). However, the third party cannot bring in, or refer to, any new evidence that has not been presented in the evidentiary phase of the hearing.
The argument should include suggestions to the Board about how it should rule.
The applicant is then allowed a brief statement to reply to the points made by the respondent or third party.
5.j. Adjournment
At the conclusion of the arguments, the panel chair thanks all parties and gives an approximate time when the decision (see Guide section 7.a.) will be issued. Decisions are usually reserved.
The hearing is adjourned.
6. After the Hearing
6.a. Decision
As stated earlier, the Board generally does not render its decision at the hearing. The decision is contained in a comprehensive written document, which includes identification of the parties, their representatives, and the witnesses; the applicable sections of the legislation; the issues of the case; the findings of fact; the grounds on which the board based its decision; and the decision.
The Board tries to release its written decisions, with reasons, to the parties according to the following schedule:
- Hearing lasting less than 5 days: Decision released within 60 business days
- Hearing lasting 5 to 20 days: Decision released within 90 business days.
- Hearing lasting more than 20 days: Decision released within 120 business days.
In arriving at a decision, the NFPPB has only three options available to it.
In a nuisance case, the Board can either:
- Decide that the farm practice in question is a normal farm practice, and dismiss the application
- Decide that the farm practice in question is not a normal farm practice, and order the farmer to cease the practice
- Decide that the farm practice in question would be a normal farm practice if the farmer modifies the practice as specified by the Board. The decision would then list the modifications ordered.
If the Board rules that the practice causing the disturbance is a normal farm practice, the farmer is free to continue the practice under the protection of the Act. The Board will not entertain further similar complaints unless circumstances have changed appreciably.
In a bylaw case (including one that involves vehicular traffic), the Board can either:
- Decide that the farm practice in question is a normal farm practice, and therefore exempt it from the municipal bylaw
- Decide that the farm practice in question is not a normal farm practice, and therefore is subject to the municipal bylaw, and dismiss the application
- Decide that the farm practice in question will be a normal farm practice if the farmer modifies the practice as specified by the Board. The decision would then list the modifications ordered. With these modifications, the practice would be exempt from the municipal bylaw.
Please note that the Board decision is specific to the particular site, under the circumstances presented to the Board. Board decisions are not applicable indiscriminately to other cases. A practice ruled by the Board as a normal farm practice at one site, under a particular set of circumstances, may be ruled as not a normal farm practice at a different site under a different set of circumstances.
6.b. Distribution of the Decision
An original signed copy of the decision is sent by courier to each party’s representative. In addition, if a group of applicants or respondents does not have legal representation, a copy of the decision may also be sent to each applicant or respondent in the group, as established at the hearing.
Board decisions are public documents. Copies of the full decision can be found on the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) website www.CanLII.org or can be requested at NFPPB@ontario.ca.
6c. Costs
If any of the parties in the hearing believe that another party has acted unreasonably, frivolously, in a vexatious manner, or in bad faith, during the adjudication process, and considering all of the circumstances, it may ask for an award of costs. Unreasonable, frivolous, vexatious, or bad faith conduct can include, but is not limited to:
- Failing to attend a hearing event or to send a representative when properly given notice, without contacting the Board;
- Failing to give notice or adequate explanation or lack of cooperation during pre-hearing proceedings, changing a position without notice, or introducing an issue or evidence not previously mentioned;
- Failing to act in a timely manner or to comply with a procedural Order or direction of the Board where the result causes undue prejudice or delay;
- Conduct necessitating unnecessary adjournments or delays or failing to prepare adequately for hearing events;
- Failing to present evidence, continuing to deal with issues, asking questions or taking steps that the Board has determined to be improper;
- Failing to make reasonable efforts to combine submission with parties of similar interest;
- Acting disrespectfully or maligning the character of another party; or
- Knowingly presenting false or misleading evidence
The requesting party must notify the Board within 30 days after the written decision is issued. The request must include the party who will be seeking costs, the party against whom the costs are sought, and an indication of the approximate amount of costs being sought. The Board may then request the party seeking costs and the party against whom costs are sought to make submissions in writing. Any parties requesting costs must be prepared to provide the Board the following documentation:
- The reasons for the request and the amount requested;
- An estimate of any extra preparation of hearing time caused by the alleged misconduct;
- Copies of supporting invoices for expenses claimed or an Affidavit of a person responsible for payment of those expenses verifying that they were properly incurred; and
- An Affidavit verifying that the costs claimed were incurred directly and necessarily for the time period in question.
The Board will consider the seriousness of the misconduct and may deny or grant the request or award a different amount.
6d. Appeal
Any of the parties in the hearing can appeal the decision of the Board, or any order of the Board, to Divisional Court within 30 days of the decision or order. The appeal must be based on a question of fact, law, or jurisdiction.
6e. Enforcement of the Decision
NFPPB orders and decisions are enforced in the same way as civil court decisions. The procedure for enforcement is established by section 19 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act. First, one of the parties must file a certified copy of the decision or order with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The decision or order then is then deemed to be a decision or order of the court and is enforced the same way that a decision of the Court is enforced. The party seeking enforcement would bring a motion before the court for contempt or other relief. A certified copy of the decision can be obtained from the secretary of the Board.
7. Conclusion
If you would like to comment on the Guide, please contact us through the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300. We can also be contacted for further information on the Act, the Board, normal farm practices, NFPPB decisions, and related matters.
8. Appendices
Appendix A: Hearing Application Form
Please forward the signed application and attachments to:
Normal Farm Practices Protection Board
1 Stone Road West 2nd floor, Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2
Phone: (519) 826-3433,
Fax: (519) 826-4232
Email: NFPPB@ontario.ca
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