33(1) The Tribunal may direct the parties to a proceeding before it to participate in a case management conference prior to a hearing, for the following purposes:
1. To identify additional parties to the proceeding.
2. To identify, define or narrow the issues raised by the proceeding.
3. To identify facts or evidence that may be agreed upon by the parties.
4. To provide directions for disclosure of information.
5. To discuss opportunities for resolving one or more issues in the proceeding, including the possible use of mediation or other dispute resolution processes.
6. To establish dates by which any steps in the proceeding are to be taken or begun.
7. To determine the length, schedule and location of a hearing, if any.
8. To determine the order of presentation of submissions.
9. To deal with any other matter that may assist in the fair, just and expeditious resolution of the issues.
Corbett v Arnprior (Town), LPAT (14 November 2018) provides an example of a case management conference (CMC) decision and order, including the Tribunal's decision to add the applicant [of the appealed zoning by-law amendment] as a party and an order requiring the applicant to file a summary in a format similar to a responding case synopsis provided for in the Tribunal's Rule 26.16.
On the issue of whether a non-appellant applicant [for a land use change] may be granted party status prior to a CMC in an appeal under s.38(1) of LPATA, Owens v. Waterloo (Region), LPAT (14 December 2018) provides the following conclusion:
LPATA clearly requires the Tribunal, in such appeals, to determine requests for party status from among the written submissions submitted prior to a CMC and to identify additional parties at the CMC. While the Tribunal may have jurisdiction to grant party status for the purpose of bringing preliminary motions, this is not the most just, expeditious, or cost-effective way to proceed. There is an expectation in both the legislation and Tribunal’s Rules that all such matters will be addressed at a CMC, when the Tribunal has the benefit of a complete record and has had the opportunity to determine all of the parties to an appeal.