The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) says that the backlog for its mediation services, which are the first step in its dispute resolution process, has now been cleared.
FSCO reports it has implemented a number of initiatives in order to address its backlog of mediation files, such as adopting an online scheduling system and using a private dispute resolution service provider. And, as a result, the backlog was eliminated on August 19, it reports.
Mediation is a mandatory first step in FSCO’s dispute resolution process, it notes; meaning that cases cannot proceed to court or arbitration unless mediation at FSCO has first failed. But, it says that, beginning in 2008, “an unprecedented increase” in applications for mediation resulted in the creation of a major backlog of mediation files.
There has also been a steady increase in applications for arbitration since 2006-2007, FSCO says. For 2012-2013, the number of applications almost doubled from 5,260 in the previous year to 10,510, it reports.
“As a result of clearing the mediation backlog and other external factors, this trend is continuing,” it notes, adding that approximately 72% of failed mediations currently proceed to arbitration. FSCO says it is continuing to use the private service provider to assist with its arbitration files.