To ensure Canadian International Trade Tribunal hearings proceed as efficiently as possible, and to respect the availability expectations of parties, witnesses, service providers, staff and the Tribunal, the Tribunal is introducing timekeeping measures for its Special Import Measures Act inquiry and review hearings and safeguard hearings.
Effective October 1, 2026, the Tribunal will use a digital timer to display the time available to each party. The digital timekeeping system will allow the Tribunal and parties to monitor the time used during the hearing and ensure that the hearing schedule is followed.
Adherence to the allocated time is the responsibility of counsel and parties. Where a party exceeds or appears likely to exceed its allocated time, the presiding member may intervene and take any measures considered necessary to ensure compliance with the hearing schedule.
The timer will be visible on screens in the hearing room and to remote participants joining through Webex.
The following procedure will apply:
- Registry staff will set up timers based on the time allocated to each party in the hearing schedule.
- When a party begins an examination or oral argument, the remaining allotted time will be displayed.
- If a party completes its examination or argument, or if proceedings are interrupted by questions from the Tribunal or for any other reason, the timer will be paused.
- The timer will resume when the party begins speaking again.
As a result, wall clocks will no longer be used for timekeeping purposes.