FAQ

The process for filing a claim with the Specific Claims Tribunal is established by the Specific Claims Tribunal Rules of Practice and Procedure. See the section on “Filing a Claim at the Specific Claims Tribunal”.

A claim before the Tribunal is initiated by filing a Declaration of Claim. See the section on “Forms and Templates” to refer to the Declaration of Claim form.

No. The Specific Claims Tribunal can make monetary awards up to $150 million per claim.

Funding may be available under a program administered by the Fiscal Branch, Treaties and Aboriginal Government of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. See the section on “Funding”.

All claims filed with the Specific Claims Tribunal are listed under the Claims section. Filtering options are also available to assist in narrowing searches. 

If the claim you are looking for is not listed on the Specific Claims Tribunal website, you may find the claim on the Specific Claims Branch website and we suggest you refer to their website for any inquiries.

The Specific Claims Tribunal website contains the Declaration of Claim, Response to the Declaration of Claim and any amendments to these pleadings filed in each claim. Anyone wishing to request additional documents or a list of all documents filed in a claim should send a request in writing to the Registry at claims.revendications@sct-trp.ca

Specific Claims Tribunal hearings are held at the time and place across Canada that the presiding Tribunal Member and the parties consider most appropriate. 

Subject to confidentiality or privilege orders, Specific Claims Tribunal hearings are open to the public and any material filed with the Tribunal is considered public. 

For a list of upcoming hearings and case management conferences see the section on Upcoming Hearings or Upcoming Case Management Conferences. Anyone wishing to observe a scheduled matter by videoconference should request a link for the virtual hearing in writing to the Registry at claims.revendications@sct-trp.ca at least 48 hours before the matter begins.

The audio of Specific Claims Tribunal hearings and case management conferences are recorded electronically and are made available in common audio file format. 

A party may request a copy of a case management conference or hearing recording by complying with Practice Direction No. 4 — Provision of Audio Recordings. 

The Specific Claims Tribunal can cover costs associated with interpreters, room rentals and sound equipment for in-person hearings. All fees and expenses are subject to review by the Registrar or the Executive Director of the Tribunal and a contract for the applicable services must be in place at least two weeks prior to the hearing. 

No. The Specific Claims Tribunal does not cover the cost of honorariums, food and drinks.

Counsel should address the presiding Tribunal member as Justice, Judge or Your Honour, not My Lord.  

Specific Claims Tribunal’s decisions are final and conclusive. While not subject to appeal, a decision of the Tribunal is subject to judicial review under the Federal Courts Act. 

Initial copies of decisions are provided to the parties in the language of the claim. The decisions are then published in both English and French on the website under the section Tribunal Decisions.

To subscribe to the mailing list for new decisions see the Mailing List link at the bottom of the section on Tribunal Decisions.