Canada (Minister of Human Resources Development) v. Hogervorst, 2004 FCA 433

Date: 20041214

Docket: A-146-04

Citation: 2004 FCA 433

CORAM:        DESJARDINS J.A.

NADON J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

BETWEEN:

                            MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

                                                                                                                                            Applicant

                                                                           and

                                                            JOY HOGERVORST

                                                                                                                                        Respondent

                                       Heard at Ottawa, Ontario, on December 14, 2004.

                  Judgment delivered from the Bench at Ottawa, Ontario, on December 14, 2004.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:                                          DESJARDINS J.A.

Date: 20041214

Docket: A-146-04

Citation: 2004 FCA 433

CORAM:        DESJARDINS J.A.

NADON J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

BETWEEN:

                            MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

                                                                                                                                            Applicant

                                                                           and

                                                            JOY HOGERVORST

                                                                                                                                        Respondent

                                     REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

                     Delivered from the Bench at Ottawa, Ontario, on December 14, 2004

DESJARDINS J.A.

[1]                This is an application for judicial review by the Minister of a decision of the Pension Appeals Board (the "Board"). The Board allowed the respondent to appeal the finding of the Review Tribunal that the evidence brought forth by the respondent did not meet the test on "new facts" set out in subsection 84(2) of the Canada Pension Plan, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-8 (the "Plan").

[2]                The Minister pleads that the Board was without jurisdiction to allow the appeal of the respondent, considering that a decision of the Review Tribunal under subsection 84(2) of the Plan, that no "new facts" exist, is not a decision which comes under the purview of section 83 of the Plan and therefore not a decision on which the Board can make a pronouncement.

[3]                We agree.

[4]                In Oliveira v. Canada (Minister of Human Resources Development). 2004 FCA 136, this Court confirmed "well established jurisprudence" that the Board has no jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a refusal by the Review Tribunal to reconsider one of its decision on the ground that the claimant had adduced no "new facts" (see at paragraphs 4 and 6 of the reasons for judgment). This decision was applied in Canada (Minister of Human Resources Development) v. Richard, [2004] F.C.A. No. 1916, Canada (Minister of Human Resources Development) v. Fleming, 2004 FCA 288, and Dianne Marie Kent v. The Attorney General of Canada, 2004 FCA 420. See also Peplinski v. Canada (T.D.) [1993] 1 F.C. 222.

[5]                The respondent's only recourse is to seek judicial review in the Federal Court of the Review Tribunal's refusal to reconsider its decision.

[6]                The application will be allowed without costs and the decision of the Pension Appeals Board will be set aside.

      (s) "Alice Desjardins"      

J.A.

                                                  FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

                            NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:                                                       A-146-04

STYLE OF CAUSE:                                 MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT and JOY HOGERVORST

PLACE OF HEARING:                                 OTTAWA, ONTARIO

DATE OF HEARING:                                   DECEMBER 14, 2004

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT:

DESJARDINS J.A

CONCURRED IN BY:                                  NADON J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

APPEARANCES:

Mr. Bahaa I. Sunallah                            FOR THE APPLICANT

Mrs. Joy Hogervorst                                          ON HER OWN BEHALF

and Mr. Jake Hogervorst

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Morris Rosenberg                                              FOR THE APPLICANT

Deputy Attorney General of Canada                                         

Mrs. Joy Hogervorst                                          ON HER OWN BEHALF

and Mr. Jake Hogervorst

Nepean, Ontario