Organization Profile - Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

The Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal (CART) is a small quasi-judicial body that gives the public the opportunity to request reviews of certain administrative decisions or penalties imposed under various agriculture and agri-food acts. In this regard, the CART plays a key role in ensuring a fair and efficient administrative monetary penalty system.

The Tribunal’s main focus of work is reviewing the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Notices of Violation under the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act for violations of the Health of Animals Act and the Plant Protection Act. It also reviews decisions and notices by other agencies such as the Canada Border Services Agency and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

Ottawa, Ontario

Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act

The Tribunal consists of members to be appointed by the Governor in Council, one of whom is to be appointed as Chairperson.

The Chairperson is to be appointed as a full-time member and the other members are to be appointed as either full-time members or part-time members.

Each member is to be appointed for a term of not more than five years and holds office during good behaviour, but may be removed by the Governor in Council for cause.

Each member may be re-appointed as a member in the same or another capacity.

A person is not eligible to be appointed as a member unless the person is knowledgeable about or has experience related to agriculture or agri-food and the Chairperson and at least one other member must, in addition, be a lawyer of at least ten years' standing at the bar of any province or a notary of at least ten years' standing at the Chambre des notaires du Québec.

If the Chairperson is absent or unable to act or the Chairperson's position becomes vacant, the members must designate a member with the legal qualifications described in section 28 to act as Chairperson pending the appointment of a replacement, but no person may so act for a period exceeding 60 days without the approval of the Governor in Council.

A member must not hold any other office in the federal public administration.

A member must not accept or hold any office or employment that is inconsistent with the member's duties or take part in any matter before the Tribunal in which the member has an interest.

Reviews by the Tribunal are to be heard by a single member of the Tribunal.