LTB Denies Tenant's Request for Private Hearing in Gao v Keegan Case: Gao v Keegan 2024

Dispute Summary

The Tenant requested a review of the order issued on February 24, 2024 and a stay of the order until the review request is resolved. The Tenant also requested that the hearing be conducted in private due to their accommodation needs.

Determinations

• Hearings at the LTB are generally open to the public, in accordance with the Statutory Powers Procedure Act and the Tribunal Adjudicative Records Act.
• The person seeking to restrict access has the onus to displace the general rule of openness, and confidentiality orders will only be made in exceptional cases.
• The Tenant failed to establish that openness in this case poses a serious risk to an important public interest, and that the order sought is necessary to prevent this risk.
• The Tenant's request does not address why less intrusive orders would not suffice, such as an order anonymizing their name or banning publication of information that could identify them.